Manchester City are looking to establish a good result in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid.
City host Real after overcoming their Madrid rivals Atletico in the last round, but face a completely different task in this semi-final with Los Blancos showing their class in previous rounds against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. City are yet to concede a goal in the Champions League knockout stages, but that is a record that will be put to the test by in-form striker Karim Benzema.
Pep Guardiola is facing a defensive crisis, too, with Joao Cancelo suspended for this first leg, and Kyle Walker a major injury doubt having not trained or played since the last round against Atletico. John Stones, who would be first reserve at right-back, has also not trained in a week and could miss out too.
Guardiola said Gabriel Jesus won’t be deployed at right-back, but he will have to play someone out of position if Walker and Stones are not fit.
Memories are fresh of that 4-2 aggregate win over Real Madrid two years ago, the second leg played here at the Etihad behind closed doors.
The performance of Gabriel Jesus that night, when he terrorised the Real defence, complete with Raphael Varane, forcing the error and then setting up Raheem Sterling for the opener before capitalising on another nervous defensive mistake to score the second, will have him in Pep Guardiola’s thoughts
Then his four-goal display on Saturday, plus the fact City will probably be without a recognised right back – and Jesus is the best defensive attacker City have – could mean he is in for another start.
Kindly leave your comment, like and share this story:
FOR MORE INFOR, NEWS UPDATE AND LIVE STERAM JOIN US BELOW AND PLEASE HELP TO REACH 1K SUBSCRIBERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL THANKS AND GOD BLESS