Real Madrid vs. Manchester City: Areas Where the Tie Will Be Won and Lost

Real Madrid and Manchester City meet at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night for the second leg of their highly anticipated semi-final tie in the UEFA Champions League. 

In last week’s first leg, a tense and cagey scoreless draw transpired despite the expectation for a more free-flowing and frenetic affair, and it has left the tie delicately poised. 

Indeed, the 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium probably gives the advantage to Madrid, who return to the Bernabeu with a simple equation: win at home. For Zinedine Zidane’s men, doing so has been fairly routine this season, with Madrid having won all five of their Champions League outings at home (by an aggregate score of 18-0) and 20 of 23 games there in all competitions. 

Still, though, the nature of European competition provides City with genuine encouragement, too. 

Deadlocked with the glamour boys of this competition, Manuel Pellegrini’s side carry with them the threat of the away goal: score one, and Madrid must score two; score two, and Madrid must score three.

For City, that translates into each act being weightier, each move and shot representing greater danger than those of their opponents. 

Thus, we have a tie hanging in the balance, and here we take a look at the areas that will shape it on Wednesday at the Bernabeu. 

Fitness of Stars

Before a ball is kicked, the dynamic of this contest will be shaped by fitness issues facing both sides. 

For Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo is on track to return on Wednesday after missing the first leg, according to Marca, but striker Karim Benzema remains doubtful. 

Ronaldo is a physical phenomenon, but reaching top gear so soon after a thigh injury will pose challenges, while the potential absence of Benzema is significant. 

Indeed, the Frenchman has repeatedly shown this season that he’s vital to Madrid’s fluency. Between Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, he stands as the fulcrum others play around, his presence imperative to his team’s systematic coherence. If he doesn’t recover in time for Wednesday, he’ll be sorely missed. 

For Manchester City, Yaya Toure should be fit and available for Pellegrini at the Bernabeu, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Given the absence of David Silva, the Ivorian’s return is a boost for the visitors, and yet in a season in which his physical powers have diminished, it’s hard to anticipate what sort of Toure Pellegrini will have at his disposal. 

Will it be the roaming and dynamic goal threat from midfield? Or will it be the ambling defensive headache?

…

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com