Manchester City faces its most important game of the year in the midst of a storm that has been raging since the start of the season. Pep Guardiola‘s team visits the Santiago Bernabéu tonight, and does so for the first time in history reaching the second leg of this new European classic after suffering a defeat in the first leg.
A first leg in which Manchester City abdicated in their fiefdom against the King of Europe, in a match in which they were ahead until the 86th minute. A situation that frustrated Pep Guardiola who, at the press conference, said he would work hard throughout the week to find a solution to the problem.
Guardiola draws on winter signings to turn the tie around
At the Etihad, City displayed all the problems they have been dragging along with them throughout the season: an extremely weak defense, no pressure after losing the ball, and a series of individual errors that undermined the advantage they had achieved to date. However, ahead of the Premier League match against Newcastle, Guardiola made certain changes that gave the team a total facelift.
Of the many things to highlight from the Citizen thrashing, the hat-trick from Marmoush stood out. The winter signing did not play a single minute in the first leg to make way for Grealish. A performance that was more than enough to earn him a starting place in the eleven on the most important night of the season for City.
Another name to watch was Nico González, who did not make it to the first leg in time due to lower back problems, and who also showed why City paid 60 million euros this January, also competing in the Premier League match to earn a place in the starting eleven.
The only player the Catalan coach would not be able to count on would be Manuel Akanji, who suffered a muscle injury in the first leg that will keep him out of action for almost three months. Guardiola would, however, have Haaland, Foden and Savinho, some of whom were key players in the first leg against the Whites.
Manchester City’s official line-up
With all this, and with a plan that left little room for surprises, Guardiola has finally opted for a not very revolutionary eleven with which he will try to storm the Santiago Bernabéu:
Manchester City F.C.: Ederson; Khusanov, Stones, Ruben Dias, Gvardiol; Nico, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Foden; Savinho and Marmoush.