Following the latest captivating Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City, it is advantage Los Blancos heading into Wednesday's playoff second leg at the Bernabeu.
Despite falling behind twice at the Etihad last week, the holders showcased their perpetual Champions League mettle to somehow return to the Spanish capital with a 3-2 win to their name.
Match preview
© Imago
Making light of Real Madrid's furious Ballon d'Or snub when Los Blancos learned that Rodri would pip Vinicius Junior to the top prize, Man City fans unfurled a banner of their Spanish metronome kissing the accolade with the tagline "Stop crying your heart out" - an ode to Citizens-crazed Oasis - last week.
However, the home faithful may have instead been reduced to tears at the end of the first leg, where none other than Vinicius lifted the ball over an onrushing Ederson and witnessed Jude Bellingham settle a five-goal spectacular from close range, the latest engrossing European turnaround from the men in white.
Now just 90 minutes away from a customary place in the last 16 - where either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen will be waiting - Real Madrid may find safe haven in the Champions League, having now failed to come up trumps in any of their last three matches in the Spanish top division.
The weekend's 1-1 draw with Osasuna was clouded in yet more officiating controversy, as either side of Kylian Mbappe's strike and Ante Budimir's equalising penalty, Manchester hero Bellingham said something that the referee clearly did not like and was ejected from the field of play.
Now at risk of being overtaken at the top of the table by Barcelona if the Catalan giants defeat Rayo Vallecano on Monday night, Real Madrid at least have history to fall back on in Europe; from the 39 previous occasions where they have won the first leg of a knockout game away from home, they have only failed to advance from two of them.
© Imago
While Real Madrid have progressed from 37 of their 39 European knockout ties when prevailing in the first leg, City are yet to take a leaf out of their hosts' comeback book, having been eliminated on each of their four previous occasions when losing the opening battle.
The odds may be stacked against Pep Guardiola's Man City, but the stuttering English champions at least enjoyed a near-perfect warm-up for a daunting trip to the Bernabeu, hitting Newcastle United for four without reply in Saturday's Premier League pummelling.
While Mohamed Salah might hold the crown of Egyptian king, Omar Marmoush made his case to be labelled the Liverpool star's heir apparent with a terrific hat-trick inside just 33 minutes, before James McAtee emerged from the bench to finish the job for the scintillating Sky Blues.
The five-in-a-row dream may be long gone, but Guardiola's men at least remain in control of their top-four destiny in England's top flight and are slowly but surely starting to look like Man City again, even if last week proved that their winter frailties have not been entirely eradicated.
Nevertheless, the visitors have now made the net bulge in 15 successive matches across all competitions, including each of their last seven on the road, but they are on a dismal three-game losing streak away from home in Europe, already Guardiola's worst-ever such sequence.
Team News
© Imago
A sight for sore Blancos eyes, both Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba - who missed the first leg through injury - have been summoned for selection, as has Federico Valverde, who was a bit worse for wear after the Osasuna stalemate.
Lucas Vazquez is also in the squad, but Ancelotti has already ruled out a start for the Spaniard, while Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are both long-term absentees with their respective knee concerns.
While Ancelotti may understandably exercise caution over Alaba, a fit-again Rudiger's return could allow the Real boss to revert Aurelien Tchouameni to a midfield position, while Bellingham's impending domestic ban - which could be as many as 12 games - means nothing for Europe.
Like their hosts, Man City could also be aided by a double defensive boost ahead of the second leg; neither Ruben Dias nor Nathan Ake were risked against Newcastle due to muscular tightness, but both have chances of coming back for the clash with Ancelotti's men.
Jack Grealish might also be able to shake off the groin complaint he sustained in the first leg, but Manuel Akanji is facing weeks out with the abductor issue he suffered last week, joining Oscar Bobb (fitness) and Rodri (ACL) in the infirmary.
Bagging his 48th and 49th Champions League goals in the opening encounter, Haaland - seemingly fine after a knee scare at the weekend - will write two chapters of UCL history with a 50th on Wednesday, which would see him become both the youngest and quickest player to hit a half-century of strikes in the competition.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Camavinga, Tchouameni; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Gonzalez; Savinho, Silva, De Bruyne, Marmoush; Haaland
We say: Real Madrid 2-2 Manchester City (Real Madrid win 5-4 on aggregate)
Expect another high-octane high-stakes encounter between the last two winners of the Champions League on Wednesday, where Man City's desperation for goals should also be of benefit to Real Madrid as the visitors leave space in behind.
Opting for the same prediction we nearly got bang on in the first leg before Bellingham had his say, we anticipate Ancelotti's men doing just about enough to avoid defeat and progress to the last 16, thus consigning the Premier League champions to a pitiful premature exit.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
