Premier League champions Manchester City won’t be without Portuguese fullback Joao Cancelo when Real Madrid visit the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night for the first leg of their Champions League semifinal clash. Cancelo will miss the first of the two Real Madrid games due to accumulated yellow cards in the knockout stage as far as this season’s Champions League campaign is concerned.
Ahead of the first game with the best team from Spain at the moment, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has a lot of defensive uncertainties in his team with the English duo of Kyle Walker and John Stones doubtful for the game in addition to the suspended Cancelo. Walker has not played since he picked up an ankle injury during the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal tie with Atletico Madrid FC of Spain earlier this month. The right-back has missed the last three City game in all competitions. England international centre back Stones is also doubtful for the visit of Real Madrid after he picked up an injury from the Brighton game last week Wednesday.
Real Madrid were on their way out of the Champions League before they saw off French champions Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and European champions Chelsea in the round of 16 and quarterfinals respectively. To this effect, Guardiola and his Manchester City players would be wary of the phenomenal fighting spirit possessed by the current crop of Real Madrid players under Carlo Ancelotti who’s in his second spell at the club after returning to take the managerial job last summer.
Premier League champions Manchester City go into the Madrid game on the back of two straight wins in the league and eight goals scored, while one goal was conceded. They would be hoping to take an healthy lead to the second leg in Spain at the start of next month.