Manchester City vs. Real Madrid live score, updates, highlights & lineups from Champions League semifinal

By | April 26, 2022
0 Comment

Manchester City host Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal series. It’s no secret that European success is top of the list of priorities in Manchester. It’s the one major trophy that Guardiola hasn’t delivered in his time at the club. He has often been accused of overthinking as his side reaches the final stages of the competition, a criticism leveled at him since his time at Bayern Munich.

His opposite number, Carlo Ancelotti, faces no such accusations. The Italian is well acquainted with the Champions League trophy, having lifted it three times as a manager, once with Real Madrid. Los Blancos have won the trophy more times than any other club (13), and their squad is rich in experience of European success.

Karim Benzema has already shown his class in this competition, and his performance against Paris Saint-Germain was eye-catching. While Ancelotti’s approach tends to focus on getting the best out of his stars, Guardiola is no stranger to making changes to his team as he tweaks his system for a particular opponent.

When his side have been in this position in the past, Guardiola has perhaps made one change too many. City’s chances in this semifinal series likely rest on Pep Guardiola’s choices ahead of kick. In contrast, Ancelotti’s side will be easier to predict, with much of his team picking itself.

Sporting News is following the match live and providing live score updates, commentary.

MORE: Has Pep Guardiola won the Champions League? How many trophies has he won?

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid live score

  1H 2H Final
Man City — — —
Real Madrid — — —

Goals: —

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid live updates, highlights from Champions League

30 mins from kickoff: The hosts are likely to supply most of the attacking impetus in this game. Pep Guardiola will want to head to Madrid with a healthy lead in the tie. The visiting defence, and goalkeeper, will likely be expecting a busy night.

40 mins from kickoff: Real Madrid have been here before, and many of these players are more than experienced with the sharp end of a European campaign. For City, that’s not the case. They haven’t reached this stage of the Champions League as frequently as they’d like, and today is an opportunity to improve their European record and clinch that first trophy.

60 mins from kickoff: For all the talk of overthinking, it looks a relatively normal selection from Guardiola. Stones features at full back with Walker and Cancelo unavailable but, on paper, the midfield and attack look standard.

70 mins from kickoff: John Stones is back for City, and will likely play at right back with Kyle Walker not able to return to the squad in time. Jesus, Foden, and Mahrez are the front three.

75 mins from kickoff: Rodrygo will be playing off the left, with Valverde taking Casemiro’s place in midfield. The trio that have seen Madrid to European success in the past has been broken up by the change, but it remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola can find a way to take advantage. Valverde is certainly no poor replacement.

80 mins from kickoff: As they do, Real Madrid have released their team early. Alaba has made the starting lineup, but it looks like Casemiro could only make the bench.

90 mins from kickoff: The Sporting News is here with live coverage of Man City vs. Real Madrid. We’re not brave enough to make a prediction, but we’re confident this will be a cracker.

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid lineups

Guardiola will be forced to shuffle his side ahead of this game. He will be without Joao Cancelo, who is suspended. Kyle Walker hasn’t returned to fitness soon enough to make the squad, but John Stones has, and will start at right back. Zinchenko is preferred to Ake at left back. Gabriel Jesus gets a chance to continue his run of goals, as he starts alongside Foden and Mahrez in attack.

Manchester City starting lineup (4-3-3): Ederson (GK) — Stones, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko — De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo — Mahrez, Foden, Jesus

Manchester City subs (12): Steffen, Carson, Ake, Sterling, Gundogan, Grealish, Fernandinho, Egan-Riley, Mbete, Palmer, McAtee, Lavia

Like their hosts, Real Madrid only have one confirmed absence ahead of this game, with Eden Hazard not expected to make the squad. David Alaba made the squad, despite doubts about his inclusion. Casemiro was in the same position, but is only judged fit enough to make the bench. Valverde deputises in his place, while Rodrygo is chosen to start on the right.

Real Madrid starting lineup (4-3-3): Courtois (GK) — Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy  — Modric, Valverse, Kroos — Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Junior

Real Madrid subs (12): Lunin, Fuidias, Vallejo, Nacho, Asensio, Marcelo, Casemiro, Lucas Vasquez, Bale, Dani Ceballos, Isco, Camavinga

MORE: Are Modric, Kroos and Casemiro still Real Madrid’s best midfield?

How to watch Manchester City vs. Real Madrid

  UK USA Canada Australia
Date Tues, April 26 Tues, April 26 Tues, April 26 Wed, April 27
Time 20:00 GMT 15:00 ET 15:00 ET 05:00 AET
TV channel BT Sport 2 CBS, Univision, TUDN — —
Streaming BT Sport fuboTV, Paramount+ DAZN Stan Sport

UK: BT Sport 2 will broadcast the match in the UK, with the stream available on the network’s platforms.

USA: The match will air on CBS (English), Univision and TUDN (Spanish) in the USA with all three channels streamed on fuboTV, available to new users on a free trial. Paramount+ will stream the match in English.

Canada: Every Champions League game in Canada streams live on DAZN. 

Australia: Stan Sport has the streaming rights for every UEFA Champions League match in Australia.

Source