Champions League preview: Real Madrid vs Man City
Jude Bellingham made headlines at the weekend for the wrong reasons. But it was the Englishman’s stoppage time goal that gave Real Madrid the advantage in the first leg.
So will Jude leave City fans reaching for the expletives on Wednesday night at the Bernabeu? Or can the visitors fight back?
It’s hard to see the hosts slipping up
Bellingham is in the news after being sent off for effing and jeffing at a referee during Real’s match against Osasuna on Saturday. That game ended 1-1, making it three league games on the bounce where the Madrid side have failed to win.
In the Champions League, though, Real are the toughest of nuts to crack. The club have won the European trophy on 15 occasions, more than any other side – and look well positioned to progress to the next round too, after the first leg ended 3-2 to Real at the Etihad.
That was despite Man City taking the lead twice with two goals from Erling Haaland, only to let Real back into the game in the final minutes.
Given Real’s stature in this competition, and City’s various struggles this season, it’s hard to see the hosts letting this one slip.
Then again, City looked excellent against Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday, new signing Omar Marmoush scoring a first half hat-trick as City eased to a 4-0 win. If City can capture that kind of energy against Real, maybe the comeback really is on.
Marmoush will surely figure here after that performance; the striker is 5/4 to find the net. Otherwise, you could try backing the draw at 3/1.
In the last five encounters between these sides, three have ended in stalemates. That includes the second legs in both 2024 and 2023, each of which were played at the Bernabeu.
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