Champions League: Real-Man City chase semifinal berth in blockbuster second leg; Bayern host Arsenal in Munich

In what will be a blockbuster evening in the Champions League on Wednesday (April 17), it will be defending champions Manchester City who will square off against Real Madrid in the second leg. With the tie firmly in balance at 3-3 after the first leg in Madrid, it will be a winner-takes contest as the race for Wembley heats up. The evening’s other key battle will see Arsenal travel to Munich when they take on Bayern at the Allianz Arena.

City-Real square off in Manchester

Having served a treat for fans in Madrid with an entertaining 3-3 draw, both the giants of the modern game will head into the contest with an ambition to win the title. Real beat City in the 2022 semifinal over two legs while Pep Guardiola’s men exacted revenge in the 2022-23 season when they beat Real at the same stage. Interestingly, whenever Real and City have faced in the knockout stage of the competition, the winner has gone on to win the Champions League.

Real have never won on City soil and will have a duck to break, they head into the contest on the back of a 1-0 win in La Liga against Mallorca. The win saw them in control of their La Liga fate where they currently sit top of the table. In their last visit to the Etihad Stadium, Carlo Ancelotti’e side lost 4-0 with City advancing to the final to win the Champions League.

City will enter the second leg as favourites though having deposited Luton Town over the weekend. Players like Rodri, Phil Foden and John Stones were rested for the match. City will have the added boost of calling Ederson into the Playing XI, having been passed fit. Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland will also be in the spotlight during the match.

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