Real Madrid go head-to-head against Manchester City on Tuesday. Read our Predictions and Betting Tips with Match Preview, Head-to-head stats (h2h) and Team Form Analysis.
This match will be played on 10/04/2024 at 03:00
Manchester City face each other at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in what many football enthusiasts expected to be the Champions League final. Los Blancos are enjoying a very successful season, with the team being on the right track to win the La Liga title, but they will have a big fish to fry in the CL double-header. David Alaba and Thibaut Courtois remain in the recovery room, but Carlo Ancelotti has no fresh injury worries as Real Madrid were not in action at the weekend.
The Citizens, on the other hand, aim to build on back-to-back wins over Aston Villa (4-1) and Crystal Palace (4-2). Pep Guardiola’s troops faced no difficulties in the previous round against Copenhagen, but seeing that the Spanish giants are tough to beat in Madrid, the share of spoils is on the horizon this time out. Manuel Akanji is widely expected to return to the starting eleven, while fellow defenders Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker remain on the sidelines with injuries. Josko Guardiol is a major doubt.
How the bookies view it
After that comprehensive win last season, Manchester City are heavy favourites to qualify at a best 1/2 with 10JILI while Real Madrid are 21/10 outsiders. Even for a win in Spain, the Bernabeu giants are pretty big at 19/10 with 10 JILI while City’s price increases to 6/4 at 10 JILI. I wouldn’t rule out a first-leg draw and that pays 13/5 with William Hill.
Recent head to head
It wasn’t until 2012 that these sides first faced off but they’ve been making up for lost time since then, cramming in 10 matches. Manchester City just have the edge with four victories, while Real Madrid have three wins and the other three matches have been draws. The Spanish giants have held the upper hand at the Bernabeu, winning three of the five encounters and losing just once.
Players to watch
Manchester City’s defence still looks a bit vulnerable to pacy forwards so Vinicius Junior will fancy his chances of causing problems. The Brazilian netted after I tipped him to set up a goal against Leipzig in the last 16 but backing him for either a goal or an assist pays 6/5 with 10 JILI here.
Phil Foden is in the form of his life for Manchester City and scored a hat-trick against Aston Villa last week after I backed him for anytime scorer. The winger is 13/8 with 10 JILI to either score or assist at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City Prediction
This has grown into a big rivalry over the last several years. Record-holding 14-time Champions League winners will lock horns with the current holders. Carlo Ancelotti’s men certainly did not forget the last season’s Etihad misery. They had nine full days to prepare for their Mancunian enemies. Knowing how strong Los Blancos have been throughout the whole season, there is merit in backing their victory at least in this first leg in front of their fans.
The Citizens’ back line has been anything but reliable of late. Their defenders have generally been dropping like flies in the last several weeks. Kyle Walker and Josko Gvardiol are the latest two additions to the team’s injury list. Pep Guardiola’s troops kept just two clean sheets in the last eight games in all competitions. They are now up against the deadliest attacking line in Spanish La Liga away from home.
On another note, Man City did bag four goals in each of the last two Premier League wins. Six of the previous seven head-to-head encounters between Madrid and City provided goals at both ends as well. Real Madrid to win & Both Teams To Score is the way to go at the attractive 5.00 odds.
Searching for more value bets, one should not look past the anytime goalscorer market. Jude Bellingham has been Real Madrid’s gem this season. The 20-year-old Englishman tops the team’s scoring charts in both La Liga and Champions League.
He has 16 goals to his name in only 23 La Liga appearances and he has added four more Champions League goals to an impressive tally. We know everything about Man City’s defensive issues. The value is great in backing Bellingham to score anytime at the 3.25 odds.