Mahrez vs Vinicius, Guardiola vs Ancelotti, Benzema vs Jesus! Desh Parthab highlights some things you need to keep an eye out for when Manchester City host Real Madrid in the Champions League this evening.
The stage is set. Both Manchester City and Real Madrid come into this one with the necessary momentum ahead of their hotly anticipated Champions League semi-final clash.
European royalty, Real Madrid, have all but secured the LaLiga title following back to back domestic league wins since their previous Champions League appearance and will be looking to their trophy selection by drawing first blood.
Manchester City picked up their 25th league win over the weekend – this is the 5th consecutive campaign where they have won 25+ matches in the division. They are only the second side in the English top-flight to achieve that feat in five straight seasons, after Manchester United.
Two of the modern greats renew hostilities
Pep Guardiola (W4) and Carlo Ancelotti (W2) have faced each other on six previous occasions as opposing managers – however, all four of Guardiola’s wins came against Ancelotti’s Everton on English soil (with three of those coming in the English Premier League and the fourth coming in the FA cup), whilst the Italian’s 2 victories came in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 2013/14 with his Real Madrid side thrashing Bayern Munich 5-0 on aggregate.
✅ Juventus (1999)
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 12, 2022
✅ Milan (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007)
✅ Real Madrid (2014, 2015, 2022)
Carlo Ancelotti joins Pep Guardiola and José Mourinho as the only managers to reach eight Champions League semifinals pic.twitter.com/MRLRQeTwYL
Magnificent Mahrez, Unlucky Jesus
Only Riyadh Mahrez (6) has outscored Gabriel Jesus (3) in the Blue of Manchester City in the Champions League this season. The forward comes into this one on the back of five goals and two assists across his previous three starts for Pep’s side (across all competitions). The Brazilian has been out of favour in terms of starting selection – more than 10 teammates of his have racked up more tournament appearances than he has showing that he is lower down the pecking order. Jesus bagged a goal and assist the last time these clubs met in the UCL and should he start, he could continue his scoring streak against the Madridstas.
🔵 2019/20: when Gabriel Jesus became the second player to score in both legs of a #UCL knockout tie against Real Madrid for an English side...@ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/C0eWR049Au
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 25, 2022
Vicious Vinicius
Vinicius Junior (6) leads the assists chart in the European competition thus far and could go one further when the two sides go head to head tonight. The attacker is one of only two outfield players to have started every single Champions League fixture for Ancelotti’s side this season. His eight goal involvements (G2 A6) is only bettered by five players who have participated in the competition this season, alluding to his ability to deliver.
Vinicius Junior in the #UCL this season:
— NextGenFootball ⚽ (@nextgenfutball) April 26, 2022
🔹Most assists provided(6)
🔹Most chances created (26)
🔹Most ten - yard progressive carries(62)
Starboy 🌟 pic.twitter.com/9ZTXCcav0k
Real’s pedigree can’t be ignored
This is the 31st time that Real Madrid F.C. have reached the semi-final of the European Cup/Champions League – at least 11 times more than any other side in the competition’s history. With that being said, the Spanish giants were taken to extra time by the reigning UCL champions Chelsea in the quarter-finals, eventually going down on the night 3-2 but progressing on aggregate, suffice to say, they know how to get things done. Los Blancos will play their third consecutive away fixture in this one and come up against a City team that are yet to concede in the knockout stages of the competition thus far.
Real Madrid have dominated the Champions League semifinals 😤 pic.twitter.com/K626JaH8jc
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 25, 2022
Recent history favours City
Manchester City are unbeaten at home in the Champions League this season – winning four of their five European fixtures at the Etihad. In the UCL this season, their possession (60.4%) and passing accuracy (90.6%) metrics are both competition-leading totals. Furthermore, the reigning English champions are yet to concede a goal in the knockout stages of the European competition – keeping a clean sheet across their previous four UCL fixtures. City have also won their previous 3 matches against Real Madrid across all competitions.
The saga continues...👀💫#ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/pa5wHqXYlE
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 26, 2022
