The Champions League 2019-20 kicks start its 2nd leg with a clash between Manchester City and the reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid in the Round of 16.
Match Preview
Real Madrid makes a trip to Manchester City to overturn a 2-1 first-leg defeat. Los Blancos had shown a stunning show after the resumption, by winning the La Liga title after three years. Zinedine Zidane's side won 10 straight matches to snatch the title from arch-rivals Barcelona. Madrid made into the top four every time in the last decade, except the Round of 16 deficit to Ajax in 2019.
Meanwhile, the City would hope to carry the first leg momentum at Etihad on Friday. After losing the Premier League title to Liverpool, Pep Guardiola's side suffered a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final. The English giants are having an upper hand on the Spanish club to reach the quarter-final. The only fact could scar Guardiola as they have only won one of their five two-legged knockout games against the Spanish club.
Team News & Lineups
Manchester City
City will miss Sergio Aguero due to a knee injury and Benjamin Mendy due to the suspension after picking the yellow card in the first leg. Fernandinho might get the recall in central defense alongside Aymeric Laporte.
Lineup: Ederson; Walker, Fernandinho, Laporte, Cancelo; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Mahrez
Man City Champions League form: W W D D W W
Real Madrid
Los Blancos will be without the captain Ramos due to the suspension after getting the red card at the Bernabeu. Eder Militao could be the replacement to join Raphael Varane in central defense. Federico Valverde could start on the bench. Marco Asensio and Eden Hazard are having injury problems but they will feature in this aggregate match.
Lineup: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Militao, Mendy; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Hazard, Benzema, Asensio
Real Madrid Champions League form: D W W D W L
Key Players
Manchester City
Raheem Sterling (forward): 20 goals (Premier League)
Gabriel Jesus (forward): 14 goals (Premier League)
Real Madrid
Karim Benzema (forward): 21 goals (La Liga)
Toni Kroos (midfield): 4 goals (La Liga)
