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Real Madrid welcome Pep Guardiola's Manchester City to the famous Santiago Bernabeu for the first leg of the Uefa Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night and it promises to be an absolute cracker.
This is the biggest tie of the entire competition and surely the tie of the round.
A chance for Pep Guardiola and his City side to make amends for last year's collapse and an opportunity for Real Madrid to remind everyone why they are still top dogs.
While current form places the English side as slight favourites, here are 3 reasons why Real Madrid should be fancied to emerge victorious.
Unstoppable Vinicius Jr
Vinícius has gone from a young winger with bags of potential to a bonafide world-beater. A player who can alter an entire game plan on his own.
The Brazilian is one of the most feared attackers in world football and many have tried and failed to stop him.
Man City possess Kyle Walker who can at least match Vinicius for pace but the 22-year-old is more than just a speed star. Based on his performances this season, he can swing this tie in Real’s favour very quickly.
Karim Benzema’s big game pedigree
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Benzema has had a bit of a strange season. Started off slowly, battled with injuries, embroiled in some controversy around the France World Cup squad in Qatar before retiring from international football. Now, the 35-year-old is seemingly back to his best.
His ability to decide a game on the biggest stage is not in question. With a litany of big-game performances, from Liverpool to Chelsea to PSG, the Frenchman knows how to turn the heat up when it matters most.
He scored three goals over two legs to knock Guardiola’s men out of the Champions League last season and there’s no betting against him repeating the feat this year.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City: 3 things Guardiola's team must do to defeat Los Blancos
Carlo Ancelotti
Don Carlo as he is fondly called is one of the most experienced coaches when it comes to knockout football. There is no emotion he has not experienced.
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While Pep Guardiola is arguably the most astute tactical mind the game has ever seen, the City boss is coming up against the best in club knockout football.
Ancelotti just knows how to handle these big occasions and as he showed last year, Real will never be dead as long as he is on the touchline.
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