Manchester City vs. Real Madrid: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Two of the biggest teams in Europe clash in the UEFA Champions League playoffs on Tuesday, as Manchester City and Real Madrid go head-to-head in pursuit of a first-leg lead.

Manchester City clinched their maiden UEFA Champions League crown at the expense of Inter Milan in 2023, while Real claimed their 15th European title with victory over Borussia Dortmund last season.

However, only one of the European giants can make the round of 16 of this season’s competition following a disappointing league phase.

Real finished 11th in the 36-team standings, falling a point short of automatic qualification to the last 16, while City could only secure the 22nd spot, having won only three of their eight league-phase games.

This will be the fourth consecutive season that the pair have met in the knockout stages of the competition, with their past meetings regularly filled with plenty of drama.

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid betting picks and predictions

Over 3.5 goals (+110)

Manchester City have won seven of their last ten matches in all competitions, but they are still evidently some way off their best and they were forced to come from behind to edge past League One Leyton Orient 2-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday.

That means that both teams have scored in six of their last seven matches, the only exception being in a 6-0 rout of Ipswich at Portman Road, and defensive problems clearly persist in the absence of midfield protector Rodri.

Manchester City have conceded 14 goals in their last five UEFA Champions League matches, shipping four in defeat against both Sporting and PSG, so they must be feeling pretty nervous about coming up against Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

That said, Real head to Manchester with a severely depleted defense and having Eder Militao, David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Carvajal on the sidelines makes things tougher for them.

With Erling Haaland leading the line and Kevin De Bruyne back pulling the strings in midfield, City pose a serious potent threat and home advantage ought to help their cause.

Both teams have scored in eight of the nine meetings between this pair since 2016, and in that period, City have recorded 4-0 and 4-3 wins over Real while also sharing the spoils in a six-goal thriller.

So, with the pair each having something to prove defensively but possessing an array of attacking talent, over 3.5 goals looks a solid wager.

Rodrygo to score or assist (+120)

Rodrygo may be overshadowed in this Real team by Mbappe and Vinicius but the Brazilian winger has scored four times in 392 minutes of UEFA Champions League action this season.

Rodrygo has also contributed six goals and five assists in La Liga and he could cause plenty of problems for a fragile City backline.

The 24-year-old has scored in his last two meetings with the Premier League champions and he may be able to bolster that record on Tuesday.

Mateo Kovacic to be shown a card (+333)

With Rodri still missing through injury, Mateo Kovacic is a vital part of City’s midfield and the Croatian international will have a job trying to stop Real playing.

Kovacic will be expected to press hard and retrieve possession and with that pressure could come a card.

The 30-year-old has picked up six yellow in 27 appearances this season and there have been at least four bookings in the last five meetings between the sides, so expect a spicy encounter.

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Manchester City vs. Real Madrid odds

Manchester City	+125
Tie	+280
Real Madrid	+187

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid player props

Anytime Goalscorer

Erling Haaland	+100
Kylian Mbappe	+130
Vinicius Junior	+150
Omar Marmoush	+210
Rodrygo	+210
Endrick	+210

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.