Manchester City has gone from one crisis to another this season. A bad shape, a list of paralyzing injuries and well -documented out -of -field problems have worked their ability to reproduce previous years of domination.
City is fifth in the Premier League, 13 points at the Liverpool leaders and without practically no chance of winning a fifth successive title. They could only manage 22nd place in the rebuilt table of the Champions League and suffered defeats for Sporting CP which would have been unthinkable just 12 months ago.
The air of invincibility has long disappeared.
And so, their confrontation with the title champions of European champions of Real Madrid is a fatal conclusion, right?
🛬 Touchdown in Manchester! pic.twitter.com/o2asre2rmu
– Real Madrid Cf 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 10, 2025
Madrid has trouble
Fake. Madrid also undergoes a relative crisis and will arrive in England out of shape, practically missing their first whole choice four and with accusations of lack of chemistry which always revolve around their very praised three of Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.
The draw on Saturday with Atletico Madrid noted that they kept first place in La Liga, but the first three are separated by only two points and Barcelona has found its Mojo in recent weeks.
Madrid has won only one of their last three games, and this one with a last goal from Gonzalo Garcia in Leganes in Copa del Rey.
On weekends, they ended a point against the Atleti of Diego Simeone, but only after coach Carlo Ancelotti had to establish the law in his erroneous attackers.
Generalized relationships in Spain this morning say that the Italian was so unhappy with individuality by having priority on the team’s instructions, he gave an order at half-time to Vinicius Jr, Bellingham and Mbappe for S ‘ Improve or be dragged.
Mbappe quickly sparked the equalizer, but the incident offers an additional weight to the theory that all three want to occupy a similar place on the ground, leading to an imbalance that affects other areas.
Add their defensive concerns and their city should be encouraged.
Pep 💬 We are where we are and I know it perfectly. But, the team has something special and I hope that tomorrow we can prove. pic.twitter.com/od9fqehs27
– Manchester City (@Mancity) February 10, 2025
Yes, the local team is still lacking in golden Ballon Rodri, but Madrid will be forced to set up a defense lacking physics and experience.
Defensive
Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal both released for the season while Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba are likely to miss the two legs of the city tie. Alaba had just returned almost 13 months before being struck again.
If that was not bad enough for Ancelotti, the rear right, Lucas Vazquez had to move away from the derby with Atleti with an injury to the hamstrings and will not go to Manchester.
All this is added to what will include a fortune four at Etihad.
Midfielder Federico Valverde could start in the right back. And while the International Uruguaye has all the attributes to fulfill the role adequately, we will miss his athletics a lot in the center of the field.
The central defensive pairing will also contain another midfielder in Aurelien Tchouameni. French is technically excellent and prosperous when Madrid has a lot of ball. However, City should have their fair share of possession tomorrow evening and Erling Haaland will lip his lips in anticipation at the idea of a physical battle which he will undoubtedly win.
Asencio to associate tchouame
Alongside Tchouameni will be Raul Asecio. The 21 -year -old was excellent against Atleti but lacks experience of special occasions, especially in European competition.
And then on the left will be Ferland Mendy. The old back of Lyon is about to make the head on Fran Garcia and will be the key to organizing an inexperienced back line.
Another thing to consider is five Madrid players who could play tomorrow evening – Bellingham, Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavonga, Endrick and Luka Modric – are all a reservation to miss the second step thanks to the suspension.
City can still scratch for their best shape, but they could not wish to play Madrid at a better time.
