Real Madrid (H) - Tue 26th April, 20:00 (BST) | Pre-Match Thread | Team news (pg 67)

[Withnail]

Viniscus Junior's pace is a concern especially with no Walker and Stones. However, our offensive options and quality will still trouble Madrid. Should be a great game and any sort of lead going into the second leg will be a decent result.

 

[domalino]

A draw? We go for the throat, more than capable of getting a needed 2 goal cushion to take to Madrid

3-1, Gabby loves this fixture

Im surprised how cautious people are being.

This real side is half as good as the one we beat easily 2 years ago, we should make a statement beating them.

City win by 3 tomorrow. KDB, Jesus, Sterling.

 

[cibaman]

Whilst it is far from ideal, Ake right back is comfortably the best option we have. as long as we don't expect him to offer anything going forward he will be fine. Cancelo is right footed playing on the left, we basically just have to ask him to do a man marking job on vinicius, it's manageable for a game, it will give them more chances to score but its no excuse for not taking a positive result over to Madrid.

They're a slow team that like the ball and like to impose themselves on to others. They're not far off the perfect match up for us. If we play with intensity throughout, they'll tire badly second half. I expect a tight first half then for us to get a hat full of chances second half, the only question is whether we can take them.

I expect RM will go for it if we’ve a makeshift defence. They’ll calculate that they will have more chance of scoring tomorrow than when we have players back for the 2nd leg.
I’m expecting a similar game to Monaco

 

[DunfermlineBlue]

Im surprised how cautious people are being.

This real side is half as good as the one we beat easily 2 years ago, we should make a statement beating them.

City win by 3 tomorrow. KDB, Jesus, Sterling.

Exactly this madrid team wouldn’t make top 4 in the premier league Imo. The Chelsea result flattered them!

 

[bluke]

Viniscus Junior's pace is a concern especially with no Walker and Stones. However, our offensive options and quality will still trouble Madrid. Should be a great game and any sort of lead going into the second leg will be a decent result.

They may have a couple of exceptionally gifted players but we all know it's gonna be "lump it to Benzema" route one football.

 

[shemnel]

i've decided R Madrid are going 4-3-3, as they like to, so we're going to counter it with a 3-4-3

Ederson
Dias - Laporte - Ake
De Bruyne - Gundogan - Rodri - Silva
Mahrez - Jesus - Foden

i.e. 3-2-5 in possession, or even 3-1-6. Defending 3-1-5-1. no worries. 3-0.

 

[Tangled up in blue.]

Honestly think it’s a defence mechanism for some, I’m sure some don’t actually care but I reckon most city fans want this more than the prem this year. Absolutely desperate for us to win it personally

Prem every time

 

[Deleted member 87819]

Im surprised how cautious people are being.

This real side is half as good as the one we beat easily 2 years ago, we should make a statement beating them.

City win by 3 tomorrow. KDB, Jesus, Sterling.

We have no defensive reassurances for tomorrow night. Benzema’s form, Vinicius’s form, all should be cause for concern. Their momentum at this point is strong and they rested on the weekend. People are underestimating them. They have a 15 point lead in La Liga

 

[Deleted member 87819]

Prem every time

If we reach the final, which would very likely be against Liverpool, what happens ultimately will matter on how most of us feel about the season. If we win the league and a week later lose the UCL to them, it will leave a bitter taste just like last season. And if somehow the opposite happens, we lose the league but beat them in the final, it would hurt them and be massive for us. Hopefully we win both though

 

[Tangled up in blue.]

If we reach the final, which would very likely be against Liverpool, what happens ultimately will matter on how most of us feel about the season. If we win the league and a week later lose the UCL to them, it will leave a bitter taste just like last season. And if somehow the opposite happens, we lose the league but beat them in the final, it would hurt them and be massive for us. Hopefully we win both though

What if the scouse bastards win them both. I'd be suicidal

 

[Deleted member 87819]

What if the scouse bastards win them both. I'd be suicidal

They wouldn’t shut up about “Quadruple” for a century

 

[Seth MCFC]

Ederson
Dias
Laporte
Aké
Zinchenko
Rodri
Bernardo
Gundogan
Mahrez
De Bruyne
Foden

325 in possession with Dias, Laporte and Aké in a back three. Rodri and Zinchenko in a midfield pivot. Mahrez wide right with
Bernardo, De Bruyne, Gundogan and Foden the other players making up the front 5. Obviously it will be very fluid positionally but I think this will be the standard.

Out of possession, most likely it will be a 442 with the back four being Dias, Laporte, Aké, Zinchenko. In midfield it will be: Bernardo, Rodri, Gundogan, Foden. The front two pressing the defence and the goalkeeper will probably be De Bruyne and Mahrez (or another of the midfield four).

 

[WickyWain]

Personally think we've got a big problem if Walker and Stones can't play as well as Cancelo

If that is how it is, I'd take a point right now and take our chances in the 2nd leg with hopefully all three back

I can't see us getting any points tbh

:)

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

We have no defensive reassurances for tomorrow night. Benzema’s form, Vinicius’s form, all should be cause for concern. Their momentum at this point is strong and they rested on the weekend. People are underestimating them. They have a 15 point lead in La Liga

We absolutely can’t underestimate not least because they find a way to win when outplayed. We’ve just seen that in the last 2 rounds. They are also rested.
If Walker and Stones are out then it’s Ake for me at RB. To play Dias there not only takes our captain out of the areas Benzems but Reuben isn’t quick and gives Vinicius the option to go inside of out and we know Vinicius to Benzems is a big threat for them.
Ake at RB will at least stop him going inside so often meaning going on the outside gives slightly more time to organise defensively. Also Nathan came into the cauldron at Athletico with the game and bodies in the line and played a brilliant cameo. I’m confident he could do it again.
Don’t expect to see him racing down to the byline though!

 

[ninjamonkey]

I expect RM will go for it if we’ve a makeshift defence. They’ll calculate that they will have more chance of scoring tomorrow than when we have players back for the 2nd leg.
I’m expecting a similar game to Monaco

Definitely makes sense, there's a chink in our armour but they have to wrestle control of the game from us first to be able to have a go at us and we rarely give that up, especially at home. End of the day it's one player/position, it's not going to be a completely makeshift defence. There's a big danger we murder them if they do open it right up, they will be wary of that too and will want to go into the second leg with a decent shot at progressing, last thing their midfield will want is a frantic back and forth game, they're all over 30 and prefer a slower game. They will pose a threat but I think we smash them if we put away our chances, I'm more concerned about our attackers finishing opportunities than them exploiting our right side.

 

[Mancity1980]

What if the scouse bastards win them both. I'd be suicidal

They would be intolerable for years.

 

[Inter Me Nan]

Prem every time

Both.

 

[citizen_maine]

They would be intolerable for years.

No change there then

 

[applecentral]

I’m guessing it’s Egan Riley. Which would be a bold move.

Thanks for your reply mate

 

[The Colonel]

I was there watching him trying to bend a pass up the line with his left foot was a joy to behold :-)

Yes failed every time iirc.