Real Madrid (H) - Tue 17th March, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction?

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The Black Shed said:
Have we got it in us to dish out another 4-0 hammering?

Our line up in 2023:

Ederson
Walker Stones Dias Akanji
De Bruyne Rodri Gundogan
B.Silva Haaland Grealish

Six of them not here anymore and the other five are three years older. Could probably say the same about RM to be fair.

Come on you blues, it's possible. Believe.
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This is good to see. The positive vibes are drowning out the negative ones.
 
Gray said:
Games we have won by 4 or more goals this season:-
  • 16/08/25 - Wolves 0 v 4 City
  • 27/09/25 - City 5 v 1 Burnley
  • 10/01/26 - City 10 v 1 Exeter
And that's your lot.

I just think that Madrid are a cut above those three teams.
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Thats where I'm at. We're just not at it. However, 3-0 will take us to pens....but cant see a clean sheet either
 
It's taken me a few days but I'm no longer Mr doom and gloom on this. I think the odds are stacked against us, but it's a free hit.

Lose again 3-0 and who cares. Win and it's a champions league classic. Push them close and we show ourselves we're not crashing and burning.

As Pep says defence is actually quite important, we can't concede, especially early. Unfortunately I think we will and that will be too much, but who knows.

Personally I'd have stones back in if he's fully fit to break some lines, and we need to get back to this forward thinking play by having Nunes and Ait Nouri giving width and running forward.

The athleticism of O Reilly in the middle will be important to stop the break. I'm only really debating whether it's a case of Khusanov for the pace and power, or Dias/ Guehi for the experience. But I think we all know Pep will likely go with his trustee generals mostly here. Possibly a Stones and Dias partnership, Bernie of course, Rodders.

We need to score first, get them twitchy, they earlier the better. Get a second and they'll be breathing through their arses. Come on city, in this world of current political crap and unnecessary hardships, give us all something to cheer!
 
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ayrshire_blue said:
Mad bookmaker pricing on this. 3/7 favourites. Effectively they make us ever so slightly more likely to beat Madrid than they make Sporting to beat Bodo/Glimt (1/2).

Honestly think the result could go either way tonight, depends what City turns up. We're really unlikely to outplay them though and do nearly enough to go through.

My head says a 2-2 draw.
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A very likely result
 
Berti No Show said:
I just think we've been missing something recently. Not for lack of quality because we have that in abundance - but the combinations haven't quite felt right. And that matters more than people realise.

Haaland is still the best goalscorer in the world when everything clicks around him. That hasn't changed. He just needs the right people in the right places, and I genuinely believe Foden is one of those guys. The way he reads the game, the little pockets he finds - he unlocks things for the players around him. We've missed that lately.
Cherki alongside him is an exciting thought. Two players who just see the game differently and are 2 of the most creative players in World Football. You can't coach that kind of vision, you either have it or you don't - and both of them have it.

I'd go with someone like this:

Donnarumma

Nunes
Guehi
Khusanov
Ait Nouri

Nico G
Rodri

Doku
Foden
Cherki

Haaland.

I know leaving out Bernardo feels strange. He's been such an important player for so long. But sometimes the kindest thing you can do for a team is make a brave call, even when it's an uncomfortable one because you genuinely believe it gives everyone the best chance of winning.

A double pivot of Nico Gonzalez and Rodri gives you control and protection. They squeeze the pitch, keep everything compact and stop the game from becoming stretched. When we lose it, they're there, reading it, stepping in, killing counter attacks before they even start. That's what we've been missing - that security that lets everyone else play higher and with more freedom. The introduction of Kovacic to the midfield alongside Rodri 2 seasons ago won us the title in my opinion don't forget.

Once that base in the middle is solid, the rest can take risks.

I might be talking absolute rubbish, but that's just my opinion.
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What no Sav ???
 
Is it possible that a weakened side is put out by the whiney bastards, they take their lead for granted, we finally go into 5th gear, and we go to town on this lot? Perhaps...

Let's believe Blues! I'm looking forward to tonight! We've thrived on uphill tasks before.
 
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