Real Madrid v Manchester City: Prediction and Tips

Manchester City have it all to do after their last-gasp 3-2 defeat in the opening leg of this UEFA Champions League knockout tie at the Etihad, but that ensures they have to go on the front foot and it promises to be another truly captivating contest against Real Madrid.

City had twice taken the lead through Erling Haaland only for Real to score twice in the final six minutes last week, with substitute Brahim Diaz levelling matters before Jude Bellingham snatched an injury-time winner for the Spanish giants.

Real won the UEFA Champions League last season and in 2021/22, with those victories sandwiched between Manchester City’s sole win in the competition in 2022/23, and for one of them it will be a disastrous early exit from Europe’s elite competition.

Given the array of attacking talent on show, combined with defensive absentees and frequent deficiencies, it is hard to see anything other than another rivalry littered with goals.

Contents

Real Madrid v Manchester City Prediction

Key Prediction Stats & Insights

Real Madrid v Manchester City Betting Tips

Real Madrid v Manchester City Head to Head

Supercomputer Prediction

Predicted Starting Line-ups

Real Madrid v Manchester City Prediction

Prediction	BetSie Supercomputer %	Odds	Odds%
Draw	21.1%	10/3	23.1%
Real Madrid 2-2 Manchester City	N/A	10/1	9.1%

Key Prediction Stats & Insights

• Real Madrid have conceded in nine of their last 11 matches, with both teams scoring in their last four matches.
• Manchester City have lost four of their last six UEFA Champions League games while Real have won four straight matches in the competition.
• Both teams have scored in nine of the last 10 meetings between the sides.

Real Madrid v Manchester City Betting Tips

Tip	Current Odds
Over 3.5 goals	4/5
Vinicius Junior anytime goalscorer	20/21
Eduardo Camavinga to be shown a card	2/1

Over 3.5 goals - 4/5

The opening leg at the Etihad didn’t disappoint, with Real Madrid claiming a 3-2 lead in what was another high-octane encounter between two of Europe’s elite.

That means that these teams have now met nine times in the UEFA Champions League since 2020 and both teams have scored in eight of those rivalries, the only exception being in a 4-0 win for City at the Etihad in May 2023.

City have had an underwhelming season and they find themselves 16 points off the pace being set by Liverpool in the Premier League with only 13 games remaining.

However, Saturday’s easy 4-0 win at home to Newcastle on Saturday was the perfect preparation for this return trip to the Bernabeu, where they have no choice but to go on the front foot.

With Real severely weakened defensively minus injured trio Eder Militao, Dan Carvajal and David Alaba, City will believe they can cause problems for the hosts. Antonio Rudiger may be ready for a return, but the German is unlikely to be in perfect condition.

But keeping the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham quiet is a completely different task and it means that the goals should flow again in another topsy-turvy encounter.

City did rout Newcastle 4-0 last time out but that was only their fourth clean sheet in 17 outings and they have conceded two or more in five of their last six UEFA Champions League matches.

Real have failed to win in three La Liga games after their 1-1 draw at Osasuna on Saturday but they remain level with Barcelona at the top of the league and they are a different demon when it comes to the UEFA Champions League.

There have been over 3.5 goals in 10 of Manchester City's last 11 games and the trend should continue in a game they must win to have any chance of qualification.

Vinicius Junior anytime goalscorer - 20/21

Vinicius Junior has scored seven UEFA Champions League goals this season and he could bolster that tally at home to City.

The brilliant Brazilian was unable to get on the scoresheet in the opening leg but he did have three shots, hitting the target one, and was a constant threat to the City rearguard.

His pace, power and trickery is going to give City constant problems and with 17 goals in 32 appearances this season, it is clear to see why he is considered to be one of the best players in the world.

Eduardo Camavinga to be shown a card - 2/1

Last Tuesday’s rivalry was a rare cardless contest but, with the stakes ramped up for this second leg, referee Istvan Kovacs may struggle to let so much go.

Eduardo Camavinga committed only one foul at the Etihad but the Frenchman may have to be even more disruptive in the midfield as he attempts to stop City playing.

The high-energy youngster has been booked five times in 20 appearances this season, which includes in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Osasuna, and another yellow could follow in this crunch clash.

Real Madrid v Manchester City Head to Head

Previous Meetings	15
Real Madrid Wins	6
Manchester City Wins	5
Draws	4
First Game	Real Madrid 3-2 Manchester City (September 2012)
Last Game	Manchester City 2-3 Real Madrid (February 2025)

These two have become regular rivals in the UEFA Champions League of late, with them squaring up 15 times since 2012, and it has been a fairly even personal series.

Real edge City in the rivalry but three of the last five meetings have been drawn and the goals tend to flow, with both teams scoring in nine of the last 10 showdowns.

The La Liga heavyweights have lost only one of the last six meetings and that will be a difficult sequence for City to snap.

Supercomputer Prediction

Real Madrid	51.7%
Draw	21.1%
Manchester City	27.1%

Predicted Starting Line-ups

Real Madrid

Formation: 4-2-3-1
Team: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Camavinga, Tchouameni; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.

Manchester City

Formation: 4-1-4-1
Team: Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Stones, Gvardiol; Gonzalez; Savinho, Silva, De Bruyne, Marmoush; Haaland.

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