Season defining tie as Real faces Manchester City in CL

The game comes just before Real Madrid faces FC Barcelona on the same ground in what looks as if it couldbe a season-defining week for Zinedine Zidane’s side, just as it looks to be going through a slight dip in form.

Real Madrid was held 2-2 at home by Celta Vigo 10 days ago and lost 1-0 to Levante at the weekend: a result that saw Barca leapfrog it in the table. Those setbacks would be forgotten with two wins, while two disappointments would risk seeing the season end in failure. Zidane is without Eden Hazard for the foreseeable future after the winger broke his right tibia against Levante and Gareth Bale’s lack of form means Vinicius Jr could find a place in the starting 11.

Ferland Mendy, who was rested in the past two league games, should return at left-back alongside Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal in defence, while Casemiro, Tony Kroos, Isco and Luka Modric or FedeValverde will be in midfield, while Karim Benzema leads the Real Madrid attack.

Manchester City travels in the wake of the UEFA decision to ban the club from European competition for two seasons due to breaches of financial fair play regulations and that means it could be the last chance for some players to win the Champions League with the club. Coach Pep Guardiola has said he will stay at Manchester City whatever happens, while at the same time adding that if he fails in Europe again, he could be sacked anyhow.

Manchester City didn’t look overly affected by the ban as it won 1-0 away to third-placed Leicester City at the weekend and the return of Aymeric Laporte has certainly helped to shore up a defence which has been too prone to errors this season - although Vinicius may still fancy his chances of taking of right-back Kyle Walker.

David Silva’s muscle problems could see him start on the bench on Wednesday in a game where Manchester City will look to dominatepossession, while Real Madrid will seek to pressure it high up the field and look to force errors in a game that looks to be finely balanced.