Manchester Metropolis face their largest job of the UEFA Champions League group part, as they journey to the Bernabeu to face Actual Madrid.
The Blues are simply outdoors computerized play off locations, with their opponents two factors forward of them in sixth.
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Final outing in Europe, a closely rotated Metropolis misplaced disappointingly to Bayer Leverkusen, while Xabi Alonso’s Madrid beat Olympiacos 4-3 in a stunner.
Issues have improved domestically for Metropolis since then with three straight wins in opposition to Leeds United, Fulham and Sunderland, while Los Blancos misplaced 2-0 at residence to Celta Vigo on Sunday night after being diminished to 9 gamers.
Listed here are 5 issues to look out for as Metropolis journey to some of the iconic stadiums in Europe:
Cherki or Reijnders?
Pep Guardiola appears to be settled on ten of his beginning group proper now – with the one separation being between his two new midfielders.
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Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki have been rotated with one another just lately and each present totally different qualities.
Reijnders is comfy on the ball and offers power to midfield, in addition to field crashing skill.
Cherki in the meantime has majestic technical skill and was participant of the match in opposition to Sunderland, with two assists together with an impressive rabona.
I think that with Madrid’s present defensive deficiencies, Guardiola will line up with Cherki because the extra offensive possibility, however previous video games in opposition to Actual Madrid might properly give the Metropolis boss an inclination to be extra cautious.
Doku concentrating on the dearth of Madrid proper again
In Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal, Actual Madrid are lacking two of the most effective fullbacks on the planet by means of damage.
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The following most suitable choice for Madrid could be to play Federico Valverde there, however taking him out of the midfield considerably weakens them in that side.
That seemingly means an inexperienced makeshift shall be deployed there – and Jeremy Doku shall be licking his lips.
The Belgian winger is the most effective one vs one dribbler on the planet and has loved his most fruitful season thus far, shining in massive video games in opposition to Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
He can add Madrid to his portfolio tonight, and if he does certainly get the higher of his full again we will count on Metropolis to come back out on high.
Donnarumma’s first big take a look at
Gianluigi Donnarumma was signed for matches like this.
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The Italian goalkeeper was instrumental in PSG’s Champions League success final season, and that is his first massive European recreation between the sticks for Metropolis.
He’s loved a very good begin to life on the Etihad, and brings a way of composure and management to what can typically be a nervy backline.
However in opposition to the Galacticos of Madrid, he’ll have his first actual take a look at the place we will actually decide simply how essential he will be for Metropolis this season and past.
Haaland getting probabilities on the counter…
Madrid don’t sit again and defend on the Bernabeu – their followers merely received’t enable it.
Alonso is already a person beneath strain and wishes an enormous win tonight with the intention to get again of their good books (or, within the phrases of some Spanish media, to avoid wasting his job.)
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This is good news for Erling Haaland. Metropolis’s quantity 9 thrives with house in behind, and he ought to get that in abundance in opposition to Los Blancos.
…however Vinicius and Mbappe additionally putting on the break
The Blues nevertheless need to watch out about what comes at them the opposite means.
Vinicius Junior tends to play with a degree to show in opposition to Metropolis. Abdukodir Khusanov did a very good job in opposition to him final season, however Matheus Nunes might properly battle if he’s not having considered one of his higher video games.
Kylian Mbappe is supposedly “injured” however having been named within the matchday squad, I’d be stunned if he doesn’t function in any respect.
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Each of them are quick and harmful operating with the ball and in behind, and Mbappe particularly pulled Metropolis’s defence aside on this fixture final season.
It’ll be a excessive scoring one as Metropolis and Madrid each battle defensively while excelling going forwards, and ultimately it might be Madrid’s accidents that find yourself being the distinction between the 2 groups.