Manchester City has flown from one crisis to another this season. Bad form, a list of injuries and well -documented out -of -field issues have reduced their ability to reproduce previous years of sovereignty.
The city is fifth in the Premier League, 13 points by Liverpool leaders and with almost no chance of claiming a fifth consecutive title. They could only manage the 22nd point at the Champions League’s updated table and suffered defeats for those who like the athletic CP that would be unthinkable just 12 months ago.
The air of undefeated has disappeared for a long time.
And so, their conflict with the defense of European champions Real Madrid is a preliminary conclusion, right?
🛬 Touchdown in Manchester! pic.twitter.com/o2asre2rmu
– Real Madrid CF 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) Feb 1025 1025
Madrid is struggling
Wrong. Madrid also lasts a relative crisis and will reach England out of the form, losing almost their entire first choice behind four and with charges of chemistry lack of chemistry that still revolve around the very covered front of three of Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.
Saturday’s tie with Atletico Madrid meant that they maintained the top position in La Liga, but the first three are separated by just two points and Barcelona have recovered their Mojo in recent weeks.
Madrid has won only one of the last three games and this courtesy of a last Gonzalo Garcia target at Leganes at Copa del Rey.
On the weekend they wrote a point against Diego Simeone’s Atleti, but only after coach Carlo Ancelotti had to determine the law on the wrong launch.
The widely used reports in Spain this morning claim that the Italian was so unhappy in the individuality he preceded by the team’s instructions, he gave a half-time order to Vinicius Jr, Bellingham and Mbappe to improve or move away.
Mbappe immediately dropped the equalizer, but the incident offers further weight in the theory that all three want to occupy a similar position on the pitch, leading to an imbalance that affects other areas.
Throw their defensive concerns and the city must be encouraged.
Pep 💬 We are where we are and I know perfectly. But the team has something special and we hope that tomorrow we can prove it. pic.twitter.com/od9fqehs27
– Manchester City (@mancity) Feb 1025 1025
Yes, the home side is still missing from Ballon d’Or Winner Rodri, but Madrid will be forced to throw away a defense that has no naturalness and experience.
Defensive
Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are both out for the time, while Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba are likely to lose both legs of the city. Alaba has just returned from almost 13 months before she hit again.
If this wasn’t bad enough for Ancelotti, Lucas Vazquez’s attitude had to get out of the derby with Atleti with an injury and would not travel to Manchester.
All of this adds to what will include a improvised four on Etihad.
The average Federico Valverde could start with the right. And while Uruguay international has all the features to fulfill the role adequately, its sport will be lost in the center of the field.
The central defensive couple will probably contain another medium in Aurelien Tchouameni. The Frenchman is technically excellent and thrives when Madrid has a lot of ball. However, the city should have a fair share of occupation tomorrow night and Erling Haaland will lick his lips awaiting the thought of a natural battle that will undoubtedly win.
Asencio to work together Tchouameni
Along with Tchouameni it will be Raul Asencio. The 21 -year -old was excellent against Atleti, but he has no experience in the great occasion, especially in European competition.
And then on the left will be Ferland Mendy. The former full back of Lyon is set to get the nod over Fran Garcia and will be the key to organizing an infinite rear line.
Another thing to consider is the five Madrid players who could play tomorrow night – Bellingham, Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Endrick and Luka Modric – they are all inmates away from missing the second leg through suspension.
The city may still scrape for their best form, but they would not want to play Madrid at a better time.
