2nd leg…164 days later!

That’s gotta be a record, hasn’t it?

v Real Madrid

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game which, for me blog-wise, was our game against Watford: 8/11).

Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-6-0:

______________________________________________

 

_____________________Jesus____________________

 

___Sterling___________________________Mahrez___

 

____________De Bruyne_____D. Silva_____________

 

_____________________Rodri____________________

Cancelo_________________________________Walker

______________Laporte_____Fernandinho_________

 

 

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Carson, Zinchenko, Garcia, Otamendi, Stones, Gundogan, Doyle, Foden, B. Silva.

Ederson, of course, in net.

Now here we go – I was gonna put Eric Garcia in the starting line-up; continuing his good partnership with Aymeric. But then…BOOM! The young lad tells his employer that he doesn’t want to extend his contract beyond next season, which basically means he 'wants out' (and wants to go back to his beloved Barca). Pep, understandable, didn’t look pleased when-having to announce that in his pre-match press conference yesterday and although some may have suggested that he might not have started this evening anyway; I’m now dropping him in my predicted 'starting 11'. SO…having been given some game-time on the left flank recently, Joao to fill the left-wing back slot vacated by Benjamin Mendy’s 1-match Euro suspension; Kyle on the opposite flank and I think it’ll now be Fernandinho who partners Aymeric in the middle of our defence (could be well wrong here – we could see Pep deploy 3 central defenders for this one).

Anyhoo…I think we’ll see Rodders as the defensive midfielder and if I’m right with a back-4, I think we’ll see him nip back on occasions to swell the centre of defence when the pattern of play dictates.

An attacking 4…or 5 ahead of him, with Kevin & David in the middle, Raheem on the left, Riyad on the right and Gabriel perhaps not being used RIGHT up front but, instead, floating / rotating with both Raheem & Riyad.

Scott continues to be the back-up stopper to Ed; Oleksandr, Eric, Nicolas & John make up a fairly large, defensive force from ‘the 9’. The remainder of the bench sees 4 midfielders / wide men in the form of Ilkay, Tommy, Phil & Bernardo.

Notable absences:

-       Claudio Bravo – Injured.

-       Benjamin Mendy – Suspended for this game.

-       Sergio Aguero – Still recovering after knee surgery…and still in Barcelona with the Doctors doing so!

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

That looks good to me!

Result? I often find European games so hard to predict – similar to some domestic cup games; form seems to go out of the window on occasions and upsets involving so-called ‘should win / lesser teams’ are aplenty.

On Friday night, we have two top teams both top of their own form league tables and packed with talent. What separates us? Home advantage, albeit with no fans, and a 2-1 lead to us.

It’s gonna be very difficult, of course, and I’m sure they’ll do their very best to supress the likes of Kevin De Bruyne & Raheem Stirling. If that’s part of their plan, they’ve-then still got to find a way of dealing with an in-form and hungry David Silva; not to mention Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus & support-attacking wing-backs.

I think they’ll score…and I think we will too. I also believe that there’s a reasonable chance that we’ll win on the night as well…but I’m going for a draw on the night and, therefore, a trip to Portugal in a few weeks’ times for the final stage, knockout tournament.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Very warm! For a second Friday on-the-trot, a heat surge from the south sees the 8pm KO time (BST) start at around 73F, which’ll be more like 80+F inside in the stadium I’m sure; following a hot & sunny day in Manchester. Even after the sun disappears behind the largely-empty Colin Bell stand and then Earth’s horizon; it’s not gonna drop below 70F with high humidity predicted and, so, those drinks break may well be welcomed by the players, unless they interrupt a good spell in play by either side.