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Jimbo welcomes James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Alvaro Romeo and Julien Laurens to the team ahead of some great midweek action in the quarterfinals.
A rested Real Madrid faces the reigning champions, Manchester City. You can watch the preview of this match at 8:00 p. m.
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Carlo Ancelotti is not a coach who likes to experiment or take risks, so I don’t expect him to replace his system. But perhaps you will see him putting Eduardo Camavinga on the bench to protect him: the Frenchman would miss the second leg if he also picked up some other yellow cards, such as Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior. But on Monday, Ancelotti confided to reporters that he was not worried about that prospect.
Vinicius Jr scored a brilliant goal in the first leg of the semi-finals against City last year and in the epic semi-final of last season’s double-header between the two teams. He has been involved in 14 goals in 16 games against English opponents and leads the line with Rodrygo. The latter is back in form and has fond memories of scoring a brace against City to motivate that comeback in 2022.
Joselu and Brahim would be the smartest figures on the bench. They are two players who have given more to the team than training expected, so they see them as the key to what the Whites have already achieved this season and what is to come.
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Real Madrid first leg Manchester City – Ancelotti at 200, Bernabéu and centre-backs all white
Unless Carlo Ancelotti opts for a formula like the 4-5-1 that Madrid played in the second leg of the round of 16 against RB Leipzig, I see him betting on his hybrid 4-4-2 formation.
At the time, Luka Modric was virtually irreplaceable in big games, but since then many things have been replaced: the Croatian’s long career is up in the air, his contract expires this summer and he has only started 17 of the 40 games he has played. team played for this season. If he continues to play this limited role, his relatives are clear that he will leave Madrid.
Brahim Diaz may simply be an attractive option on the bench or a wonderful inclusion, but others like Dani Ceballos and Arda Guler are from the starting eleven.
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Real Madrid first leg Manchester City – Ancelotti at 200, Bernabéu and centre-backs all white
Real Madrid have been given permission to take to the roof of the Santiago Bernabeu for the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Manchester City tonight.
The Spanish club has asked UEFA to close the roof of the Bernabeu to avoid the atmosphere of what is a massive match. Resources from UEFA and the club proved to The Athletic that the permission was granted after a pre-match technical assembly prior to the matchday.
The retractable roof was added to the stadium as part of the €1. 76 billion ($1. 91 billion, £1. 51 billion) refurbishment effort that began in 2019.
Madrid played with the roof closed for the first time in a 2-1 win over Getafe in September 2023. He also closes it out for the Champions League 16-leg second leg against RB Leipzig in March, which they drew 1-1. After the 1-0 draw. Victory in the first leg in Germany.
Asked about the new roof, city manager Pep Guardiola said: “I’m curious to see it. It’s funny because I’ve never noticed it in a game, maybe at some point in the preseason in America, but in an official game I’ve never noticed it and I’m looking forward to it.
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The cost of Real Madrid’s Bernabéu renovation amounts to 1,760 million euros
Eder Militao returned from a long absence with an ACL injury in Real Madrid’s last game but is not expected to play a role today, with Carlo Ancelotti opting between Nacho and Aurelien Tchouameni to partner Antonio Rudiger in the centre of defence.
In addition to Militao in the squad, Real Madrid’s absences are Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba, both of whom have been out for some time due to knee injuries.
Goalkeepers: Andriy Lunin, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Fran González.
Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Nacho, Lucas Vázquez, Fran García, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy.
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouameni, Dani Ceballos, Arda Guler.
Forwards: Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Joselu, Brahim Diaz.
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Eder Militao’s recovery at Real Madrid and what’s next after Sunday’s ‘reward’
Manchester City have suffered a major blow in today’s first leg, as they are defenders Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake.
Walker has missed his last three games after suffering a hamstring injury while on an overseas mission with England, while Ake suffered a calf injury in the goalless draw against Arsenal on March 31.
Guardiola made up for his absence on Saturday with a 4-2 win at Crystal Palace. Here’s what his team looks like for today’s game:
Goalkeepers: Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Scott Carson.
Defenders: Ruben Dias, John Stones, Sergio Gomez, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Rico Lewis.
Midfielders: Mateo Kovacic, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Matheus Nunes, Phil Foden, Oscar Bobb, Mahamadou Susoho.
Forwards: Erling Haaland, Julián Álvarez.
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Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake are left out of Manchester City’s squad for Real Madrid
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola asked about Jude Bellingham after his side’s Champions League draw against Real Madrid in March.
“The effect [of Bellingham] has been huge,” Guardiola said at the time.
“It’s a different team than last season. His influence is obvious and we’ll have to see what he does. “
“Facing Real Madrid is a complicated challenge, no one can deny that. It’s an exceptional club and at this festival they can control a lot of things thanks to the joy they’ve had in the past.
Carlo Ancelotti faced the press alongside defender Antonio Rudiger, who also said he was surprised by Jude Bellingham’s leadership skills.
“I was surprised because I didn’t know him very well, but oh my God!He has a wonderful personality that already exists in our team. He’s a very smart player,” Rudiger said.
“If you communicate with (Bellingham), you get the feeling that he’s been through it all and he’s only 20 years old. I’m no longer surprised.
“He’s going to be a leader, he’s very mature, very professional in everything he does. We want to pray that he remains as healthy as he is. Off the court, I don’t worry about anything, he has very smart parents and a wonderful atmosphere.
Much of the build-up to today’s game has focused on Jude Bellingham, the English foreigner who has enjoyed a sensational first season at Real Madrid. And Carlo Ancelotti ready to congratulate him before the game.
“He’s having a great season in the area. He’s very strong physically and he’s helping us a lot defensively and up front to create space and give movement,” said Ancelotti in his pre-match press conference.
“He’s very mature. He’s only 20 years old, but he’s very professional, very serious and humble. He didn’t surprise us as a player, but he did surprise us as a person, because his head is very mature for his age.
Do you agree with Pep Guardiola? Are the English at a disadvantage against Europe due to the Premier League’s relentless schedule?
We’d love to hear what you think. Let us know by emailing [email protected].
Pep Guardiola, on the other hand, is not impressed with his team’s truncated preparation stage for today’s match.
Guardiola said after the March draw: “Madrid have nine days to prepare for our game. Nine days! They’re betting this weekend and then until our game, while I’m like, “Oh, just give me one more day. “!
“With one more day, the difference is big. . . But there is no chance. That’s why, when you ask me about calendar changes, I give my opinion, but that’s the way it is. It’s complicated to play every 3 days, 3 days, 3 days, and other clubs are not in that situation.
“In France, PSG don’t play in the quarter-finals. In Portugal, he plays on the Friday before the Champions League. They (the FA and the Premier League) have their own affairs and their own decisions.
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Carlo Ancelotti is really grateful for the 8 days off his team enjoyed before today’s heavy game.
He said in his pre-match press conference: “The thing in the game is to give our best. The intellectual side is very varied, as is the courage and personality that we have to show on the field.
“We had time to prepare and we did very well. I am convinced that we will give our best in all areas, mentally, physically and technically. We have enough quality to compete.
One of the attractions of today’s match is that Real Madrid have had much more time to prepare. Carlo Ancelotti has spent 8 full days with his team. Pep Guardiola has had to settle for two.
Manchester City last played at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, winning 4-2. On the other hand, Madrid’s last Spanish league match took place on March 31, a comfortable 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Madrid did not have to play last weekend as the Spanish calendar booked the final of the Copa del Rey.
Carlo Ancelotti addressed the press and was particularly attractive when he spoke about the differences between his Real Madrid and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
The Italian, however, admitted that the two XIs had one thing in common: an abundance of stardust.
“It’s a very attractive game,” he said. It’s two groups that don’t look anything alike, because they have their own characteristics, but they are groups with a lot of individual qualities on the field. “
He added: “Technically speaking, it’s going to be a wonderful game. We expect to be impressive in some facets and they will be impressive in others. We’ll see the awesomeness after 180 minutes. Whoever wins the toss will be the most sensible team.
The evening is shaping up to be a memorable evening for Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian will be making his 200th appearance in the Champions League, having claimed his 200th win as Real Madrid coach last month.
The 64-year-old Ancelotti already has the most Champions League titles (four) as a coach and wins (114) in the competition.
“It’s a wonderful accomplishment,” he said this week. In my first game, it was against Sparta Prague when I was at Parma. Reaching two hundred games means a lot. To survive so many years in football, especially at my age. , it’s an achievement.
The famous Santiago Bernabeu stadium reopened this season after being temporarily closed for around £1 billion refurbishment work.
The highlight of all these paintings is the stadium’s new retractable roof.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti is a fan. ” It’s an awesome atmosphere, there’s something new,” he said earlier this season. “It’s a much more closed environment. “
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Manchester City get the credit here.
We’ll take a look at all the past encounters before the game.
In the UK, the match will be broadcast on TNT Sports 2. Subscribers will also be able to watch it live through the Discovery app or website. Coverage begins at 7 p. m.
In the U. S. , you can watch it on Paramount.
The game starts at 8pm BST.
It’s nine o’clock at night local time and 3 p. m. EDT.