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- The reigning champions Manchester City head to Spain to face the “kings of the competition” Real Madrid. City is the slight favorite in the Champions League Odds, but Madrid holds the advantage at Santiago Bernabeu.
- City was banned from European competitions for the next two years, which makes this tournament crucial for the English squad. Real Madrid is also looking for redemption after last year’s early exit at this same stage of the competition against Ajax.
UEFA Champions League: Manchester City vs. Real Madrid
- When: February 25, 2020; 3:00pm ET.
- Where: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain.
- Champions League Odds: Manchester City +132 vs. Real Madrid +190; Draw +250
Betting on Manchester City? Get them at +132
The English squad, coached by Pep Guardiola, continues its way in this competition with the looming dark clouds on the horizon of being banned for two years from participating in European football competitions for breaking Financial Fair Play regulations.
The reigning Premier League champions head into this game on the back of back-to-back wins in their home league, though, and face a Real Madrid that’s lost a grip of their spot atop La Liga rankings.
If this competition is the team’s last for the upcoming two years, they’re going to make it count. You can be sure this will be a match to the death with both teams leaving it all on the pitch.
However, Guardiola is also wary of facing Real Madrid, as is reflected in his “kings of the competition” comment. Manchester City may be the reigning champions, but Real has won the competition an incredible thirteen times, including thrice in a row between 2016 and 2018.
Guardiola is confident Aymeric Laporte will be fit to play despite a knock he received against Leicester last week. Raheem Sterling could also see some action, though he’s still recovering from a hamstring injury that has kept him out the previous two games.
Guardiola’s expected lineup is: Ederson; Walker, Fernandinho, Laporte, Mendy; De Bruyne, Rodrigo, Bernardo; Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling
Betting on Real Madrid? Get them at +190
Zinedine Zidane’s squad may have lost the top spot in La Liga, but as Guardiola rightly appraises, Real Madrid are kings of this competition.
Real Madrid saw an early exit at this same point in the competition last year, losing to Ajax, and now seek to make amends. With the return of Zidane to head the team, Real Madrid likes their chances of returning to glory.
Madrid will have to deal with Eden Hazard’s new injury, which once more will keep him from playing, this time, for the rest of the season. Marco Asencio is Madrid’s only other absence.
Here’s how Zidane’s probable lineup looks like: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Valverde, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Isco
Prediction: It’s going to be a brutal battle in Madrid. But, Santiago Bernabeu will prove to be too strong for City. Real Madrid wins the night 1-0.
Pick: Real Madrid +190
