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Three key player battles that will decide Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Real Madrid are gearing up for their date with destiny as the Merengues face Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final.
The reigning champions will lock horns against the team that has won the most Champions League titles in history, setting the stage for an enthralling clash of football titans.
As Tuesday approaches, anticipation builds for exciting duels spanning every inch of the field.
In this article, we take a look at the three key player battles that could define the monumental clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Antonio Rudiger vs Erling Haaland
Antonio Rudiger neutralized the threat of Erling Haaland superbly at home against Manchester City last season by limiting him to just 21 touches.
The Norwegian striker has six goals in seven games in the Champions League this season. Considering his worth to the Cityzens as a deadly poacher, Rudiger will be aiming to recreate his defensive mastery to stifle Haaland’s attacking prowess again.
Haaland relishes making runs in behind, identifying vacant gaps between center-backs, and blitzing forward in transition, which allows Man City’s creators to exploit the space he creates and unleash their devastating attacking combinations.
The 23-year-old’s ability to convert crosses into goals and instinctive nature to embrace the back of the net demand the utmost concentration from center-backs.
As such, Rudiger would be looking to stick close to him like glue, get under his skin by wrapping his arms around him and intimately marking him when City are on the break.
Manchester City’s ability to find goals through other avenues means Rudiger would have to keep his eyes peeled out for any other threats, especially ensuring that the likes of Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne cannot release him through with their line-breaking pass.
But if Rudiger can successfully contain Haaland’s movements, the opposition would essentially lose their most reliable source of goals.
Fede Valverde vs De Bruyne
Two of the best midfielders in European football, yet with vastly different strengths and roles for their respective teams, Fede Valverde and De Bruyne’s duel in the center of the park will be sure to ignite sparks.
The Uruguayan powerhouse is renowned for his relentless efforts, excelling in the final third and defensive work.
Throughout the campaign, Fede has assumed duties in all phases of play, evading the press in the first phase, carrying the ball in transition, and creating chances in the final third.
Most importantly, his crucial role in Real Madrid’s off-the-ball pressing renders him indispensable, as he positions himself smartly to intercept passes and disrupt the rhythm of creators like De Bruyne.
On the other hand, the Belgian star has often been Manchester City’s beacon of light in big games. De Bruyne’s ability to force transitions out of nowhere, play unassailable final balls, and score from the unlikeliest scenarios will compel Real Madrid to rob him of regular touches.
Most recently, he scored twice and assisted against Crystal Palace to win his side the game from a losing position. De Bruyne is a match-winner through and through.
Even when his impact is largely limited, De Bruyne simply needs moments to turn the tide of the game.
After all, last season, his impact in the first leg was negligible, but he tied the game with a glorious goal from distance.
Consequently, Valverde will be looking to prevent him from having a presence between the lines or prancing around in the half spaces, where his crosses possess the highest value.
Similarly, De Bruyne would have to assume greater responsibility off the ball, lending a hand to Rodri to make certain Valverde isn’t dashing through the Man City midfield.
Vinicius vs Rico Lewis
In an encounter tailor-made for stars to rise to the occasion, Vinicius would undeniably be the one licking his chops the most at the prospect of leaving a memorable mark on the game.
With Kyle Walker set to miss out on the game due to injury, young Rico Lews will bear the responsibility of squaring off against Vinicius.
Out of possession and on paper, Lewis is expected to be the right-back, which could be an area Madrid will be looking to exploit as the youngster has his flaws physically and covering distances quickly.
Vinicius’ strengths in one-versus-one situations imply he will regularly look to take Lewis on and not shy away from being isolated to dribble.
But Rico Lewis on the ball can cause great problems for Real Madrid. The Manchester City academy graduate tends to invert and operate centrally because the Englishman’s composure in tight spaces is one of a kind.
If Real Madrid barely can keep a hold of possession, Lewis can offer dangerous blows in the pockets and with his progression through the center.
However, in counter-attacking scenarios and moments of chaos, Vinicius could dominate on the byline, especially when Lewis is dragged out of position centrally.
Real Madrid’s second European challenge of the season is here, and they will be playing on the road against a formidable opponent in AS Roma.
The Merengues managed a massive win over Inter Milan on matchday one of the UEFA Champions League despite not playing at their best, and will hope to keep the momentum going in the competition tomorrow night.
Yet, it is also clear that Los Blancos have underdelivered by far this season and have been nowhere close to their best. In that sense, Roma arrive as a massive challenge and momentum-deciding clash ahead of El Clasico.
Having started off with a win over Villarreal after returning from the international break, Real Madrid currently have momentum on their side. Whether they can take an extra step forward and play more convincingly, however, remains to be seen.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Roma vs Real Madrid.
An undefeated opponent
Jose Mourinho taking on Gian Piero Gasperini tomorrow will be a revisit to football heritage. After all, both coaches have a long and successful history and are writing the final stages of their managerial careers.
The respect they hold for each other is massive, and while Real Madrid would normally be comfortable favourites against Roma, matters are not as clear this time around.
Heading into tomorrow’s clash, Los Blancos are on a rocky run of form and have already lost two games this season in La Liga.
In contrast, the hosts Roma are undefeated this season, and that comes as a massive warning sign for Real Madrid.
The Italian side kicked off the season with three wins in three games against Fiorentina, Lecce and Atalanta, and then drew against Fenerbahce in their opening UCL game.
Their last three games have been against difficult opponents in Torino, Inter Milan and Como, and while they did beat the first of the three, they came away with strong draws against the two big Italian sides.
Entering the game against Real Madrid, Roma will completely back themselves to pull off an upset given Los Blancos’ form, especially considering that they have the home advantage and that Real Madrid have struggled on the road.
For Mourinho and co., it will not be an easy challenge in any sense of the word.
The double-pivot question
The midfield, by far, has been Real Madrid’s biggest bottleneck this season, and the manager’s idea of fielding Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde as his big game double-pivot does not appear to be promising.
While the duo should work well on paper, their combination has not generated nearly as much control and creativity as Real Madrid require in the few games they have started together.
As they stare up to a massive European challenge, the big question thus remains as to who the manager will trust as his double-pivot pairing.
Both players started together and played decently in the win over Villarreal, but Roma will be a whole different challenge. Having players who can keep possession on that front is crucial.
Therefore, it remains to be seen what decision the manager takes in the central midfield department. Starting Valverde and Tchouameni together, at this point, would be a massive risk, but it is not easy to decide which of the two start on the bench.
Even if an alternative arrangement is to be explored, the options are simply not good enough, with Bernardo Silva not earning a place yet and Arda Guler possibly lacking the physical presence Real Madrid need in midfield.
Will Vinicius start?
Despite openly backing the player ahead of Real Madrid’s game against Villarreal, Jose Mourinho started Vinicius Jr. on the bench at the weekend and only called him for a second-half cameo.
After coming on, the player made headlines for being sent off after a disallowed goal in a passage of five minutes
Vinicius, now, will remain suspended for potentially three league games and will miss some massive games including El Clasico. His suspension does not apply in the UEFA Champions League, but it remains to be seen how Mourinho handles the situation.
On one hand, the manager knows that he cannot count on Vinicius for the next few weeks. Fielding the player in the XI, in that sense, will be understandable.
Concurrently, however, there is a legitimate debate as to whether Real Madrid are better with or without the Brazilian star at this point. Given how Guler and Yan Diomande have both shown more value, there is a strong case to drop Vinicius despite his availability.
So far, the manager has openly backed the winger time and time again, and it will be interesting to see what he decides about Vinicius’ participation tomorrow. Needless to say, it will speak volumes about where the player stands in Mourinho’s pecking order.
