Man City vs Real Madrid: Team news, probable lineups and key battle

It's been a long time coming, but the Champions League returns on Friday night as Manchester City seek to secure a spot in the quarter-finals at the expense of Real Madrid. The Premier League side secured a 2-1 win over Los Blancos at the Bernabeu in the first leg, so hold the advantage ahead of the reverse fixture meeting at the Etihad Stadium. 

However, Real Madrid aren't to be ruled out. The 13-time European cup winners have the personnel to hurt any side on their day and City are no exception in what promises to be a scintilating second leg match up in Manchester. 

When is kick off? 

Friday 7th August, 20:00 GMT 

Where is this match? 

The Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

Where can I watch it? 

BT Sport 1, or via the BT Sport app 

The first leg - Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City 

Isco put Real Madrid ahead with an hour on the clock and the home side must have felt that goal would have been the springboard to help them to a first leg triumph. Manchester City responded with a little over 10 minutes remaining through Gabriel Jesus, before Kevin De Bruyne put the Premier League side ahead from the spot with 83 minutes on the clock. In a decisive moment for the tie, Sergio Ramos was dismissed with four minutes of normal time to play. 

Team News 

For Manchester City, the biggest absence is Sergio Aguero. The Argentine striker won't feature after undergoing knee surgery and while Pep Guardiola has favoured Gabriel Jesus in the Champions League - Aguero has made just two starts in the competition this season - the Argentine has the ability to turn the game in his side's favour in the blink of an eye. Benjamin Mendy is also ruled out for the encounter as he is suspended, with Oleksandr Zinchenko expected to feature at left-back. 

Like Mendy, Sergio Ramos is also suspended after his dismissal in the first leg, which dents Real Madrid's chances of progression considerably. Eder Militao is a sturdy deputy, but without their captain; Real Madrid may yet struggle at both ends of the pitch. Los Blancos had the best defensive record in LaLiga this season, shipping just 25 goals, while Ramos netted 11 league goals in 2019/20. Elsewhere in defence, Marcelo will be assessed with Ferland Mendy in line to feature at left-back, and in attack, Mariano has remained in Spain after testing positive for Coronavirus. 

Predicted XIs 

Manchester City (433): Ederson; Walker, Fernandinho, Laporte, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling 

Real Madrid (433): Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Varane, Mendy; Valverde, Casemiro, Kroos; Rodrygo, Benzema, Hazard 

Key Battle - Raheem Sterling vs Eden Hazard 

The two top-rated players in the 2018/19 Premier League season are set to face off at the Etihad Stadium. Raheem Sterling may have been used from the bench in the first leg, but he is expected to come back into the side for the second leg having made a big impact at the Bernabeu. Eden Hazard, meanwhile, missed the game in Spain entirely due to injury and will be looking to help Real Madrid to overcome their first leg defeat. 

Hazard hasn't set the world alight upon the back of his arrival from Chelsea, and is yet to score a Champions League goal, but an extended rest following the culmination of the 2019/20 LaLiga season will have done the Belgian the world of good. Conversely, Sterling has been in superb form in the Champions League this season having scored five and provided two assists in his seven outings in the competition. The England international had gone off the boil prior to lockdown, yet has been back to his best upon the return to action and he'll be looking to continue that form at Real Madrid's expense. 

Prediction - Manchester City 2-2 Real Madrid