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

[BlueMonkey79]

Just a realist mate.

He still think its the 70s. Don't worry about it.

 

[Zabaleta5]

I have backed City to win 4.0 at 16/1 with BoyleSports

 

[East Level 2]

Half 'n' Half tastic in here tonight. And they've just announced they're shutting the bars at 7-45 to encourage fans to watch the pre-match cheese-fest.

 

[Longballutd]

Decent side but feel Lewis and Savinho could offer something from the bench

 

[Sam69]

I hope the same scenario will happen to us.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

He still think its the 70s. Don't worry about it.

That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

 

[remember arthur mann]

4-1 full time. Out on pens.

 

[theres only one carlito]

Can we stop pretending Bernado doesn't help Rodri in the Middle? He is no Nico G defensively, sure. But he sure does work his butt off in midfield on all ends of the field.

And in there lies the problem, "All ends of the field" isnt in midfield where we need bodies to stop the sunami of madrid players wading their way through the middle of the park. Bernardo for all his running and effort cannot cover the gaping midfield gap when hes somewhere else.

 

[super_city_si]

I have backed City to win 4.0 at 16/1 with BoyleSports

Only 16/1?

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

Because Bernardo doesn't have Nico Gonzalez's defensive instincts, who wins aerial and ground duels; because several matches have shown us that the Rodri-Bernardo midfield combination doesn't work when possession is lost; because we need to block Real Madrid's quick transitions, and Rodri at 70% of his fitness isn't enough in this type of match.
And to attack well, we must first defend well.

These are some of the reasons why I wanted Nico Gonzalez alongside Rodri rather than Bernardo.

Fair enough, but as I said, Bernardo has proven time and time again to step up in these games, and when did Gonzalez last play? It would be a tough ask to just throw him in there versus Madrid after so long out. I remember when everyone else was shitting themselves in the UCL final, he and Stones really carried the team on their backs.

 

[super_city_si]

4-1 full time. Out on pens.

We have the pen master in nets now

 

[domalino]

Rodri on his own again then.

How is Rodri on his own? He’s either in a 2 with Bernardo or a 3 with Bernardo and Reijnders.

Is “on his own” just code for “don’t have O’Reilly to do all his running for him?”

 

[BlueDan91]

Plenty of Madrid fans in 032 today, steward been and taken their seat numbers but "can't do anything" right now

 

[Dodge]

Bernardo to drive this team to history tonight.

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

4-1 full time. Out on pens.

That's the spirit!

In all seriousness, that would be cruel.

 

[Franny 1234]

Watching it on an Irish stream. These feckers absolutely hate us! Lol

Its expected Dippers and Rags fans

 

[Georgian Maestro]

Food and drink kiosks closing early for the light show

 

[PragueBlue]

How is Rodri on his own? He’s either in a 2 with Bernardo or a 3 with Bernardo and Reijnders.

Is “on his own” just code for “don’t have O’Reilly to do all his running for him?”

I think it's more of the case that Reijnders doesn't offer much defensively from midfield positions and Bernardo has been pushed up so high recently that he is unable to get back to help out.

 

[super_city_si]

Madrid are almost 5/1 to win. Crazy.

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

Bernardo to drive this team to history tonight.

Where Bernardo Silva goes, even Pep Guardiola follows.