The 2016 Champions League semifinal tie between Real Madrid and Manchester City is still delicately in the balance. The two clubs fought to a goalless draw in Manchester last week, as Cristiano Ronaldo missed out due to injury. Can the Real superstar finally make his return and lead the Spanish giants in their crucial home leg at the Bernabeu?
Read on below for our complete preview of this intriguing Champions League second leg. Meanwhile, check out our preview of the other semifinal showdown, Bayern Munich vs. Atletico Madrid.
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Real Madrid vs. Manchester City 2nd Leg Preview
Where: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
When: Wednesday, May 4, 2:45 PM ET
Line: Real Madrid -220 vs. Manchester City +470, tie +305; total 2.5 – view all UEFA Champions League lines
TV Broadcast: FS1
Betting on Real Madrid
With superstar Cristiano Ronaldo failing to recover in time from his thigh injury and Karim Benzema lasting just one half with his own injury, grabbing a 0-0 draw in the first leg away from home should be considered a fine result for Real.
Ronaldo and Benzema are still doubtful to return for the second leg at home, although Ronaldo is now back in training.
Having Ronaldo back in the lineup would be a huge morale boost for Real. But even if the Portuguese superstar isn’t at his absolute best, the quality of Real’s other attacking talents (Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Lucas Vazquez) cannot be underestimated, especially at home. Bale scored the winning goal for Real over the weekend, his third goal in three games with Ronaldo out of the lineup.
Real are known more for their prolific attack, but they have had surprisingly stout defense in Europe, which should be able to make things tough for Manchester City at the Bernabeu. Real have won all five Champions League home games this season, with 18 goals scored and none conceded in those games.
Real are now the +180 favorites to win the Champions League for a record 11th time.
Betting on Manchester City
Manchester City let a golden opportunity slip as they failed to take advantage of a Ronaldo-less Real Madrid in the first leg at home. As Real showed in the quarterfinals, even a 2-0 deficit isn’t safe against them at the Bernabeu, what more a 0-0 stalemate.
The odds are against City, who are now +190 underdogs to move on to the final. However, the fact that they kept a clean sheet still leaves them in a very decent position overall in the tie. They don’t necessarily need to win away from home to reach the Champions League final. Any scored draw will see them through because of the away goals rule.
City have won four of their five Champions League away matches this season, scoring at least two goals in those four wins. Between Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva – all of whom will be well-rested after sitting out City’s 4-2 defeat to Southampton over the weekend – City have more than enough offensive weapons to finally penetrate Real’s resolute defense.
Meanwhile, City’s own defense has been playing surprisingly well. Vincent Kompany returned from injury to lead the defense to a very credible clean sheet in the first leg. The possible absence/lack of sharpness from Real’s big guns, Ronaldo and Benzema, will also be a big boost to their chances of repeating the feat in Spain.
Writer’s Prediction
Ronaldo returns as Real (-220) have too much for City and claim a 2-1 home win.
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