UCL Man City vs Real Madrid: 3 key battles as Cityzens look to end Los Blancos reign— Preview

The stakes are higher with the game evenly balanced, but can Pep Guardiola and Manchester City end Real Madrid's Champions League hegemony at the Etihad?

Two giants of the game at the moment Manchester City and Real Madrid meet again later today at the Etihad to decide who joins Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

The first-leg between these two delivered a thrilling encounter which saw both sides settle for a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu last week.

Vinicius Junior and Kevin de Bruyne netted screamers in what was an entertaining semifinal clash.

However, while there was nothing to separate City and Real after the first 90 minutes, that tie threw up some fascinating battles that could prove decisive in the second leg tonight.

Here are three of those battles that could decide the Champions League semifinal second leg at the Etihad tonight.

Man City’s Haaland vs Real Madrid’s Rudiger

After a slow start to his Real Madrid career following his free transfer from Premier League strugglers Chelsea, Antonio Rudiger seems to have settled in nicely at the LaLiga giant.

Last week, he proved why he’s not favoured by his manager Carlo Ancelotti following an interesting battle with Erling Haaland in the Champions League semifinal first leg clash against Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu.

In what was one of his biggest tests so far this season if not the sternest, facing the City goal machine, Rudiger came out unscathed in that personal duel in the Champions League tie.

The former Premier League defender produced a defensive masterclass despite the fact Madrid conceded a goal courtesy of Kevin De Bruyne.

The German international proved an annoying and clever customer for Haaland, devising an unconventional and frustrating style to keep the Norwegian quiet for 90 minutes in the Champions League semifinal clash.

Such was his performance that the man who has netted over 50 goals this season in all competitions this season for City endured his mos quiet outing this season.

Haaland finished the game with the least touches on the ball of any player on the pitch and completed just 12 passes with three shots that hardly troubled Thibaut in goal for Los Blancos.

Rudiger was excellent in his man-marking, deploying dark art that saw him glue himself to Haaland’s body.

After the game, the former Chelsea star got a high praise from Premier League Hall of Famer, Rio Ferdinand.

Ferdinand was impressed with how the German defender went about his business, lauding him for teaching Premier League teams how to defend against Haaland.

'’That's what we've been saying about Haaland in the Premier League,” Ferdinand said as reported by Pulse Sports Nigeria.

“Who's been willing to take him and have a one-versus-one battle and be confident the way Rudiger was today? He was excellent and clever as well at times,” he added.

“He made one great block in the second half. I think you've got to be aggressive with Haaland.”

Rudiger and Haaland will come up against each other one last time this season and it is left to be seen who will get the better of each other when City host Real tonight.

Walker vs Vinicius Junior

The second battle of the day set to define this particular fixture is between Kyle Walker and Vinicius Junior - the hugging duo.

Walker vs Vinicius was as interesting and entertaining as Rudiger vs Haaland during the clash at the Bernabeu, with both players always on each other’s way.

City fullback, Walker, is regarded as one of the best in the business at the moment in his position while Vinicius is one of the best dribblers in the world.

These two delivered an intense end-to-end clash on the left-hand side of the pitch and ended it with a rather surprising but respectful embrace in the end.

Vinicius eluded Walker at some point in the game when he found space and time to unleash an absolute screamer to put Real Madrid in front.

However, that was the only time as their 1v1 battle was an enthralling watch for 90 minutes. The English defender completed the most tackles in the game, five (5), made six (6) recoveries and won two (2) of his aerial duels.

His opponent, Vinicius proved why he is the best entertainer at the moment with the most dribbles completed in the game, five (5) and in addition to his goal, he also completed the most duel (9) to show there is more to him than just dancing past defenders.

Both players ended the game with a warm and surprising embrace at the end of the game. But Walker has promised there won’t be a repeat before the second leg clash later tonight.

Walker made the promise when he explained why both players hugged each other at the Bernabeu, with the Englishman providing an interesting explanation.

'’Well I went to hug him because he tried to rainbow flick me,” Walker said during his pre-match press conference. “It was more to say don’t try that because I don’t want to become a meme.”

“We had a good battle, I have a lot of respect for him,” he added per Pulse Sports Nigeria. “It's when it has been a good game, a good battle, and at the end of it, you show your respect.”

Pep Guardiola vs Carlo Ancelotti

The final battle is between the men in the dugout, two legends of the game as Guardiola and Ancelotti meet again.

While Guardiola is under pressure to deliver a Champions League crown for City despite winning two in his career, Real’s Italian manager Ancelotti is on his own having won five, two of them at Real Madrid.

These two have had an interesting history, especially at this stage of the competition and tonight will see them have another go at each other.

Guardiola is recognised as the tactical genius who has reinvented the game while Ancelotti is known as the manager who prefers the simple approach.

In the first leg, there was nothing to separate them but only one of them will progress to the final after tonight. When both sides clashed the last time at the Etihad, it was a seven-goal thriller with Pep’s side edging that 4-3.

City have won the last three clashes at the Etihad in the Champions League and it will be interesting to see if Los Blancos and their Italian tactician can arrest that poor run to put an end to Pep’s biggest quest - to win a Champions League title with City.

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