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

[RayCTID]

Not having Stones in the starting eleven concerns me. Anyway come on you Dolly Blues.

Too much of a risk to start Stones in this game. Champions League is as important as the rest but there are plenty of games left

 

[SebastianBlue]

Personally, I am just relieved we have the GOAT on the bench tonight.

 

[Aba452]

Hoping for an absolute exhibition from the human tripod Kyle. I want to hear all you Blues make some noise and turn their shorts brown. Reckon Erl and Josko will be amongst the scorers.

Listening on the City app so unable to get on the match day thread, let's all keep our shit together.

Come on City.

 

[SerbianBlue]

Great to see Walker fit in order to stop Vinicius from running like he was in Madrid

 

[BertTrautmann'sParachute]

anyone else shitting their pants yet?

I'd imagine Real Madrid.

 

[Mr. Shush]

KDB and Foden in midfield will be interesting to see. I imagine Foden and Bernardo may switch depending on circumstances. Both will be putting in one heck of a shift today.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Could be Gvardiol or none of them with Bernardo dropping deeper alongside Rodri and Walker pushing up on the right.

Pushing Walker up would then negate the reason he’s in the team, to nullify Vinicius. If he’s pushing up as right winger to allow Foden more freedom, it means Kyle is not there to have a foot race with him. I hope it’s not that.

 

[Georgian Maestro]

Could be Gvardiol or none of them with Bernardo dropping deeper alongside Rodri and Walker pushing up on the right.

The last thing we need in this game is Walker playing high on the right.

 

[kippaxwarrior]

If we haven't scored within the first 5 minutes of the match the fannywipes on the match day thread will be having meltdowns

 

[mosssideblue]

Excellent team

 

[Haaland94]

No Stones is rough.

Worrying amount of tourists, bus welcome underwhelming, hopefully the atmosphere is better inside.

Any videos by any chance? Couldn't get a ticket for tonight.

Fantastic 11 tonight. Shame about Stonesy, but I bet Vinicius is shitting it thinking about Kyle.

 

[chris85mcfc]

Stones on the bench

Strong bench overall

 

[Middedon]

The positivity around here always falls off a cliff after the team selection is posted.

 

[Eoiyflem]

Akanji in midfield…

Gvardiol most likely I reckon. Madrids main threat is pace, walker and akanji are our 2 quickest defenders. More than happy with that line up tbh

 

[PragueBlue]

Pushing Walker up would then negate the reason he’s in the team, to nullify Vinicius. If he’s pushing up as right winger to allow Foden more freedom, it means Kyle is not there to have a foot race with him. I hope it’s not that.

It's ok if Vinicius is having to drop back with him. Not what I would go for (I'd have Gvardiol stepping up if need be) but we've played that way plenty of times this season.

 

[yankblue]

Stones aside, our best lineup

 

[MellowJoe]

I think we might stuff them, got money on 5-0, only 50p, but still, I'll take any old win really, just get over the line City!
Also I want to see Erling score, his luck is due to change

 

[stonerblue]

Stoner my love, if a Champions League quarter final win against Real Madrid doesn’t get your juices flowing, I don’t know what will;)

I am on it normski. In full flow on way to match x

 

[super_city_si]

Akanji has been the only defender in the big leagues since 2015 to complete 100% of his passes in the final third: 63/63 vs Brentford. He lacks some of Stones's qualities, in particular Stones's composure in tight spaces and the ability to dribble, but I'd say his forward passes are a bit better than Stones's.

so you prefer him to stones? Agree to disagree

 

[uwerosler28]

Bus welcome was no different to a normal league game , weirdly expected more.