Real Madrid (A) - Tues 9th April, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

[TinFoilHat]

We have to exploit it. They would be royally screwed without these 4. Bellingham is a hothead, so we should be all over this. All of them quite prone to bookings, though.

Jackie boy will wind up Bellingham.

 

[GOULDYBOBS]

This team are going to turn it on soon.

We have seen glimpses of Jeckle and Hyde at palace this weekend.

Expecting Phil and Kev to step up again.

 

[GOULDYBOBS]

On 2 yellows and potentially missing 2nd leg
after a 3rd booking:

Dias

Camavinga, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Vinicius jr.

After the end of the 2nd leg all yellows will be wiped out (NOT fresh suspensions though!).

Get Jack in shithouse mode

 

[Tb1981]

Get a decent result (win/draw) here and we will batter them in second leg
They are not a great side from what I have seen this season
We need to control the counters and just keep it tight
If we are within one goal going into second leg I can’t see them beating us

 

[Don Karleone]

 

[RayCTID]

Both Ake and Walker are big losses in terms of dealing with pace.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Both Ake and Walker are big losses in terms of dealing with pace.

We're going full Kevin Keegan in this one.

7-4 to City

:)

 

[Bluemoonadam]

We won't keep a clean sheet that's for certain, be nice too take a draw back to our place like last season. I'm going for 2-2.

 

[Fordyboy46]

Damn

 

[Blue Maverick]

I do wonder why we telegraph who is injured and who isn’t, if they can do rehabilitation in Madrid why not take Ake and Walker, that would keep Madrid guessing until ko how we are going to set up.

 

[chris85mcfc]

On 2 yellows and potentially missing 2nd leg
after a 3rd booking:

Dias

Camavinga, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Vinicius jr.

After the end of the 2nd leg all yellows will be wiped out (NOT fresh suspensions though!).

That's actually quite a big advantage for us.

There's no way Camavinga and Bellingham will be able to help themselves to putting their foot in, and it's unnatural to play in a game of this size worrying about getting booked

I'd be surprised if at least one of those didn't get booked

 

[sh249]

Got to hope Gvardiol is fit, for balance more than anything else.
No particular issue with Lewis playing, but probably a risk to have him at right back against Vinicius. Not sure we can afford to have him stepping into midfield, leaving space out wide?
Switching him and Akanji might be an option, but I wouldn’t want to see Dias defending that left channel too much.
The safe(r) option is probably a more orthodox back 4, with Bernardo (or maybe Kovacic) alongside Rodri. But that might well make it more difficult to get the ball forward incisively (like against Arsenal).
Tricky.

 

[super_city_si]

He was faultless as a LB against Arsenal away some time ago. Bernardo is so good he can successfully play anywhere on the pitch. Could give it a go, with Akanji on the right. We would then play Kovacic in midfield for extra protection.

Gvardiol is allegedly fit enough to travel, though, so there is a chance he starts and we won't have a dilemma.

I might be mistaken but I thought he was booked early, kept fouling Saka and Ake was brought on early (Pep sub early)?

 

[MCFCFanTX]

We're massive

 

[deano ou812]

We're massive

But,but,but what about the red scousers and rags !

 

[Bluewars II]

They're absolutely baying for our blood..

 

[WesthoughtonJohn]

We have to exploit it. They would be royally screwed without these 4. Bellingham is a hothead, so we should be all over this. All of them quite prone to bookings, though.

Unfortunately so is Dias, so swings and roundabouts

 

[deano ou812]

They’ll be wanting to put things right after the second leg last year,we need to be totally focused and not give the ref any opportunity to brandish cards or give silly free kicks away..

 

[WesthoughtonJohn]

Rico on the left is probably the best option, but Rico played two full games on Wednesday and Saturday. He's young and can recover quickly, but Gomez might be an option too...

Gomez?? The lad who's barely played all season, not having that one

 

[phargrave]

But,but,but what about the red scousers and rags !

Fuck em