Real Madrid Vs Manchester City
Manchester City will be out to exact revenge on Real Madrid after squandering a two-goal lead last year when they meet in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal. With a fearless striker like Erling Haaland in their ranks, City has the quality and experience to do just that.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City 2023 Predictions
Last season Real Madrid stung City with a stunning late comeback in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal to steal a 5-3 win and advance on away goals. The teams meet again in this year’s semifinals, and seeing how the result turns out this time will be interesting. The two juggernauts are the top scorers in their respective leagues and have no shortage of attacking talent on display. Real has Benzema, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr to call upon in attack. At the same time, City boasts a plethora of talent with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland.
Both sides are well-equipped defensively, but it is fair to say that City have a stronger squad in the final third of the pitch. The Citizens average nearly 65% possession in the Premier League and are very hard to stop when they are on top of their game. However, away from home in the Bernabeu, it is not a given that they will dominate play to that extent, and it would be prudent to expect some high-scoring clashes.
City are the favourites to progress through to the final in this tie, but they are far from guaranteed to do so with a favourable draw. Pep Guardiola’s side is undefeated in the league this season and has already eliminated RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich from the competition. However, the Champions League remains the only trophy the club has yet to win under the Spaniard’s stewardship.
The teams have met twice this season, with City winning the first leg at home and Los Blancos taking the second leg in Manchester. The latter have a superior goal difference, so the match is likely to be a close encounter with both teams threatening at one point or another.
With so much on the line and both teams prone to erratic performances in big matches, the chances of plenty of goals are high. The two teams combined for a total of 10 goals in their two meetings in the league this season, and it is reasonable to expect at least five more in Tuesday’s contest.
The sturdiness of the City defence is likely to limit the number of opportunities at the other end, but a strong performance from Real’s front three may be enough to set up a dramatic conclusion. Nevertheless, the hosts are a formidable threat with every player fit and firing, and they should be able to hold their own against a top-quality City team.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City 2023 Betting Tips
It’s the first meeting between these two giants in the Champions League this season, and it should be a fun contest. With both teams boasting potent attacks, goals should be plentiful. Nevertheless, first-leg matchups in heavyweight rivalries are often lower scoring as teams look to preserve their advantage for the second leg.
That’s why betting under 3.5 goals seems like the wise play here. Real Madrid’s defence is incredibly solid, and they should be able to slow City down while looking for their chances on the counter. They also have the talent and experience to make this type of game a low-scoring affair, which is good news for backers of the under.
The loss to Real Madrid in last year’s semifinal still burns Pep Guardiola, and the Spaniards will not give him a chance to repeat that debacle at the Bernabeu. The City will be looking to prove that revenge is a dish best-served ice cold, and they have all the ingredients for an explosive affair on Tuesday night.
They’ve scored a league-high 89 goals in the Premier League this season, while Real Madrid is second with 68. Moreover, the Spanish team is a bit more skewed to scoring in the second half than the English side, as they’ve netted 68 per cent of their Champions League goals after the break. This is one to consider since first-leg games in European heavyweight rivalries tend to be lower-scoring affairs.
Manchester City has won four of their past five matches in all competitions, including a 2-0 win over Leeds in the FA Cup quarterfinal second leg. Those results should buoy the visiting side’s confidence, and they are a decent bet at +130 to advance to the final against Juventus.
Despite losing Eder Militao to suspension, City is healthy enough for this clash. The only lingering concern is the fitness of Karim Benzema, who was subbed out of Saturday’s Copa del Rey semifinal second leg against Barcelona due to his recent injury woes. Ancelotti isn’t known to give Benzema the full 90 minutes before big Champions League matches, so his availability in this one could be key. As a result, taking him to score or assist in this contest makes a lot of sense. He’s available at a reasonable 23/20 with Sporting Index and Bet365. He’s been a reliable goal threat in this competition, as he averages nearly four shots per match and has scored twice this
Real Madrid vs Manchester City 2023 Odds
The 2022-23 Champions League semifinals open with Real Madrid and Manchester City going head-to-head in the first leg. Pep Guardiola’s City is considered the powerhouse of this tournament. It is the clear favourite against a Madrid team that has struggled defensively lately, but this match should see plenty of goals.
The teams met in the same competition last season and went to extra time after playing to a wild 4-3 draw in the first leg before City prevailed in the second. The rematch will see both teams in top form, and we expect a high-scoring affair that will go the distance.
Despite their recent struggles defensively, Real Madrid has shown that they can still produce in the Champions League against elite opposition. That’s why they are worth backing to win the game and advance to the final. They’ve also been very good on the road this year, winning three and drawing one of their four matches away from the Bernabeu.
You can take the under on the total goals line if you want a more conservative bet. Both teams have scored at least two goals in their last five games, and the average number of goals per match in this competition is 3.7. The over/under is set at 3.5 goals, which should be enough to give you a decent return on your investment.
Both teams have shown the ability to score many goals in this tournament, with Real scoring a combined 11 in their last two home matches and Manchester City hitting seven in their last two. The first-leg matchups of heavyweight semifinals tend to be lower scoring than the second legs, as both teams look to survive and preserve their chances for the next round.
While Manchester City has the best defence in the league, it’s a little thin at the back, with first-choice centre-back Nathan Ake expected to miss out due to injury. However, the club has plenty of depth to cover for him and can still field a strong side against an unflappable Real Madrid squad.
Real Madrid, midfielder Luka Modric, is also a doubt for the clash with a knee problem, but the hosts should be able to call upon the services of Toni Kroos, Isco and Sergio Ramos in his absence. As for Manchester City, goalkeeper Ederson has been in fine form and is the safest choice to keep a clean sheet. The Spaniard averages 1.7 tackles per game and has yet to concede a goal in the Champions League this season. He will be under pressure to protect the goal at the Bernabeu. He must be at his best to prevent Real from scoring an away goal.
