Manchester Metropolis v Actual Madrid: Champions League playoff spherical, first leg – reside

Some superb information for Metropolis: Nathan Ake is match to begin in a defence that appears rather more acquainted. Actually Pep Guardiola has picked 5 defenders, which suggests John Stones will probably be enjoying in midfield.

Ederson additionally returns to the aspect and Jack Grealish begins on the left. Phil Foden is barely on the bench. Nico Gonzalez can be among the many subs, having recovered from the damage he sustained at Orient. I believe meaning Metropolis are lacking solely two first-team gamers, Rodri and Oscar Bobb.

Manchester Metropolis (potential 4-1-2-3) Ederson; Akanki, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Stones; Bernardo, De Bruyne; Savinho, Haaland, Grealish.
Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Marmoush, Kovacic, Doku, Nico Gonzalez, Gundogan, Nunes, Khusanov, Foden, O’Reilly, Lewis, McAtee.

Carlo Ancelotti has picked two midfielders, Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, within the again 4. There are two modifications from the Madrid derby on Saturday: Eduardo Camavinga replaces the injured Lucas Vazquez, with Valverde shifting into Vazquez’s place at right-back, and Ferland Mendy is most well-liked to Fran Garcia at left-back.

Actual Madrid (potential 4-2-1-3) Courtois; Valverde, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy; Ceballos, Camavinga; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
Substitutes: Lunin, Modric, Arda Guler, Endrick, Vallejo, Fran Garcia, Brahim, Gonzalo, Jacobo Ramon, Chema, Lorenzo Aguado.

Nicely properly, fancy seeing these two right here. Manchester Metropolis and Actual Madrid often meet within the later phases of the Champions League, however right here they’re slumming it within the new playoff spherical. This, certainly, shouldn’t be what Uefa had in thoughts once they revamped the Champions League. For neutrals, alternatively, it’s a mouthwatering prospect, bursting with one among soccer’s best presents: jeopardy. It’s unthinkable that both Metropolis or Madrid is not going to attain the final 16 of the Champions League. It’s additionally a certainty.

The final time Metropolis didn’t make it to the final 16 was in 2012-13, once they had been in a bunch of demise with Madrid, Ajax and Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund. The final time Actual Madrid failed to take action was in 1996-97, and that was solely as a result of they didn’t qualify. The final time they had been truly within the European Cup and went out earlier than the final 16 1962-63, Jef Jurion and all that.

The damage disaster at each golf equipment provides to the sense of wildness round this recreation. Amongst Pep Guardiola’s many choice dilemmas is who the flip ought to play right-back towards Vinicius Junior and/or Kylian Mbappe.

Madrid must discover a right-back and two centre-backs. They’re with out 5 senior defenders: Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vasquez and David Alaba.

Frankly, the rating may very well be something.

Kick off 8pm.