anticipated lineup and team updates for Real Madrid against Manchester City, during the initial stage
Title: Real Madrid vs. Manchester City: A Battle of Champions in the Play-off Round
The UEFA Champions League play-off round is set to ignite as Real Madrid and Manchester City square off. The first leg commences at 8pm GMT (3pm ET) on Tuesday, February 11th. This isn't the first time these Giants have collided on the Champions League stage, with a thrilling quarter-final showdown in Real Madrid's victory at Wembley Stadium last year, and semi-final encounters in 2022/23 and 2021/22.
However, this time around, the atmosphere is distinctly different. Real Madrid has had their share of challenges this season, losing two out of four away games and missing a top-eight spot in the competition, finishing 11th. Meanwhile, Manchester City faced a similarly tough road prior to qualifying for the play-offs, battling for a spot in the final qualifying round on goal difference, ultimately securing a 22nd place finish in the competition. Despite some struggles, they've managed to clinch a win against third-tier side Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, albeit after trailing behind initially. Real Madrid, in turn, drew 1-1 with rivals Atletico Madrid in an intense local derby.
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City: Team News
Currently, Real Madrid faces an injury crisis in their defense. Lucas Vázquez has been sidelined for two to three weeks due to a muscle strain. A long-term injury has also kept Dani Carvajal out of action, with no expected return until the 2025/26 season. Amidst this turmoil, Éder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger have also been ruled out for the remainder of the season with ACL injuries sustained in 2024. The team has been trying to cope with these losses, with Éder Militão, David Alaba, and Antonio Rüdiger all aiming to return to action in time for the second leg. Eduardo Camavinga has made a comeback from injury and could potentially feature, but Carlo Ancelotti may choose to carefully manage his return to the starting lineup.
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City: Expected Lineups
Here's what Real Madrid's expected lineup may look like for this critical tie:
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Fede Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Raul Asencio, Ferland Mendy; Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos, Jude Bellingham; Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo Goes
Notable changes to watch for include Ferland Mendy replacing Fran Garcia at left-back, as well as the return of Luka Modric to the midfield, filling in at right-back due to Lucas Vázquez's injury.
The stage is set for an enticing match, with both teams fighting hard to emerge victorious. With powerful offenses and defensive challenges ahead, it should be an intriguing clash between two of Europe's football powerhouses.
Manchester City will aim to build on their recent FA Cup win against Leyton Orient, despite facing challenges in the UEFA Champions League this season. Their opponents, Real Madrid, have also faced troubles, missing out on a top-eight spot and dealing with multiple injuries in their defense. This Champions League play-off round encounter between Manchester City and Real Madrid promises to be a thrilling repeat of their past encounters in the competition, including the memorable quarter-final at Wembley Stadium last year.
