Real Madrid (A) - Tue 9th May, 20:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[woody1968]

True. They are a lot like the All Blacks at rugby, really spring to action at the last 10 or 15 mins

The great Ellery Hanley did a piece some years ago about teams in any sport scoring late in games and he put it down more to mental fitness than physical fitness - really interesting piece. Players losing discipline, being out of position, taking the wrong option , failing to see things, losing shape etc all down to mental fitness according to Ellery.

 

[Zenmanc]

They did indeed beat us last year but I certainly wouldn't say they were the better team over the 2 legs.

I'd take being the lesser team over 2 legs if it means we move on to the final.

 

[PragueBlue]

I'd take being the lesser team over 2 legs if it means we move on to the final.

I think we all would. Still prefer to be the better team and get to the final though.

 

[Ric]

Hello all, I am a city fan living in Madrid. Does anyone know where the city fans will be congregating before kick off tomorrow in Madrid? Wouldn't mind a couple of pints with the lads.

I presume they will mainly be in Plaza Mayor mate.

 

[Blu3m00n91]

I would back us to beat any team at home. So any decent result we can take back to the Etihad will be a dream tomorrow. I think 1-1

 

[AlgarveBlu]

Hello all, I am a city fan living in Madrid. Does anyone know where the city fans will be congregating before kick off tomorrow in Madrid? Wouldn't mind a couple of pints with the lads.

You should be able to hear the howling from a few blocks away

 

[Tangled up in blue.]

So many of us confident that we will do Madrid in a champions league semi final but shitting it against 19th placed Everton away….. never change City

That's me

 

[Tangled up in blue.]

wtf is a false double pivot

Its two pivots that aren't real

 

[TonyM]

I'd go ...

.........Ederson...........
...Akanji Dias Laporte...
.......Stones Rodri........
Bernardo Foden Grealish
........KDB Haaland.......

 

[Haaland94]

I would like to see something like that:

Ederson
Walker, Stones, Dias, Laporte
Rodri
De Bruyne, Gundogan
Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish

With the exception of Walker (who has a critical job of taking care of Vinicius), that's a technically sublime side capable of dominating Real Madrid. Additionally, we will have strong defensive support from Jack and Bernie on the wings. Kevin and Gundo should be fine in the middle up against the likes of Modric and Kroos, especially with Jack and Bernie supporting them, and Rodri providing the necessary protection defensively. Finally, I picked Laporte over Akanji as he is technically superior, less rash, and more experienced at this level than Akanji.

Julian, Phil, Riyad available to come on depending on the result and the general situation.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

wtf is a false double pivot

Sounds like a non alcoholic cocktail

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Great, isn't it, to learn that the Spanish national press has swung into action as one man (woman) behind Real Madrid? Well, that makes two national presses that are behind them. Quite impressive, really.

 

[manimanc]

Are they still over here or is that training in Madrid mate?

Still here mate, they fly to Madrid about 4 O'clock.

 

[citymad]

wtf is a false double pivot

I dunno but I would assume it's opposite to a true single stationary object made famous by Mr. Slabhead

 

[JOGAMIGMOG]

My daughter, her boyfriend and a few mates of theirs are in Benidorm as we speak before getting the train to Madrid tomorrow. Wish I was there - oh to be young again with no bills to pay! :-)

 

[jimharri]

I presume the team are flying out/have flown out this morning/afternoon.

 

[Heath Park]

It’s not a real pivot

Sounds like a yoga position to me...
(a painful one at that!)

 

[city saint]

what a month ahead we could be come immortal or end up with nowt not sure my ticker enjoys it as much as me

 

[Shaffer92]

I'd go ...

.........Ederson...........
...Akanji Dias Laporte...
.......Stones Rodri........
Bernardo Foden Grealish
........KDB Haaland.......

This is exactly what I'd go with.

As I mentioned previously, I think Akanji can do a decent enough job on Vini while giving us more than Walker can when playing out from the back. Phil is rusty but I still think in games like this you put your best players out on the pitch and he's undoubtedly one of our best players. Though, I'm quite certain Pep will play Ilkay who's hard to drop in his own right. Maybe Phil plays on the right over Bernardo? You can make a case for Mahrez as well who came to City to play in these types of games and has proven over the years that he likes the stage.

I don't envy Pep having to make some of these tough decisions.

 

[Tony - MCFC]

I presume the team are flying out/have flown out this morning/afternoon.

This afternoon