The pick of Tuesday's Champions League playoff first-leg matches undoubtedly comes from the Etihad, where 2022-23 winners Manchester City and current holders Real Madrid square off in a clash of the titans.
Pep Guardiola's men only just sneaked into the top 24 places in the league phase table, while Real were just one point shy of going straight through to the last 16, and here Sports Mole rounds up the team news for the two clubs.
MANCHESTER CITY vs. REAL MADRID
© Imago
MANCHESTER CITY
Out: Vitor Reis (ineligible), Rodri (ACL)
Doubtful: Nico Gonzalez (knock), Oscar Bobb (leg), Nathan Ake (muscle), Jeremy Doku (unspecified), Ederson (unspecified)
Sports Mole's predicted XI: Ederson; Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Silva, Kovacic; Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland
REAL MADRID
Out: Antonio Rudiger (thigh), Dani Carvajal (knee), Eder Militao (knee), David Alaba (muscle), Lucas Vazquez (hamstring)
Doubtful: None
Sports Mole's predicted XI: Courtois; Valverde, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy; Camavinga, Modric; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Mbappe
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
