Manchester City vs. Real Madrid Prediction: Can Kevin De Bruyne, Man City Shine in Champions League Semifinal?
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid Prediction: Can Kevin De Bruyne, Man City Shine in Champions League Semifinal?
Unbeaten since early February and looking to win their first Champions League trophy, the Citizens will host Real Madrid in the UCL semi-final second leg.
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid Start Time and Where to Watch
- Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2023
- Game Time: 3:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: CBS, Univision, Paramount+
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid Prediction
Man City: Brilliant Run of Form
Deadlocked at 1-1 following two moments of individual brilliance in an intense and high-quality first leg in Spain, the Citizens enter this leg as odds-on favorites to qualify for their Champions League final in three years.
Wednesday’s hosts dominated the first half at the Bernabeu but went one goal behind at halftime. At the same time, somewhat against the second-half display, they fully deserved the first-leg draw they earned, with Kevin De Bruyne showing his excellent class once again.
Manchester City has won 15 consecutive games at home across all competitions, and we expect them to continue their brilliant run of form in front of their fans. They have won the Premier League in four of the past five seasons and now look likely to add another as they are sitting four points clear at the top of the table with three games to play till the end of the season. They will be crowned champions with a victory at home to Chelsea on Sunday.
Defender Nathan Ake missed last week’s first leg through injury and may not recover in time for Wednesday’s clash. The well-rested De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, and John Stones are all expected to return to the starting lineup against Real Madrid.
Real Madrid: Struggling on the Road
Real Madrid has won only three of their last six games while they have lost on both recent away La Liga matches at Girona and Real Sociedad. Falling short in the La Liga title race with Barcelona already confirmed as champions, Los Blancos now lost seven matches away from home this season.
They have lost their last two Champions League trips at the Etihad but scored eight goals in their last five meetings with Man City and have only failed to find the back of the net against them once in nine Champions League mutual encounters.
Real Madrid has won their last two away games in knock-out matches against Premier League sides in the Champions League, securing victories against Chelsea and Liverpool this season. Los Blancos deliver in difficult moments and under pressure, so we can’t fade them.
The return of suspended defensive duo Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal boosts Carlo Ancelotti. The experienced managed has a strong squad to choose from, with only Eduardo Camavinga a fitness doubt following the Frenchman´s withdrawal in the weekend victory against Getafe.
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid Picks
City has now won 33 of their last 35 competitive home matches across all competitions over the past 13 months. Only Brentford and Everton left this venue with anything other than a defeat. Ultimately, this game promises goals, drama, and world-class players bringing their A-game.
At least three goals have been scored in ten of Man City´s last 11 at home, while they have scored at least three in eight of their last nine on home soil. Inter Milan has advanced to the Champions League final with their win over AC Milan and will face either Real Madrid or Manchester City on June 10 in Istanbul.
Pick 1: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals at -105 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
Pick 2: Penalty in the game YES at +170 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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Article Author
Alex Campean has been a soccer fan since 1990 when he watched the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. He knows everything about the top 5 European leagues, Champions League and Europa League and he is well known for his “trade-mark” “Alex Classic” bet (both teams to score and over 2.5 goals in the match). He’s very disciplined, follows a strict set of rules, and has great bankroll management. He’s our European soccer specialist and he's having an average of 55 units of profit in the last 7 years with his soccer picks. He’s all about positive energy, respect, and long-term profit and if you ever hear “Alex’s last-minute goal” that means he did it again winning a bet in the last minute of the game, so never lose hope.