Erling Haaland tipped for Real Madrid revenge in Man City tie - 'That will bother him'

Real Madrid are acquainted opponents for Erling Haaland but the Manchester City striker inactive hasn't scored against them successful the Champions League, a which duck he'll anticipation to interruption connected Tuesday

Erling Haaland tin beryllium the Manchester City wrecking shot that knocks Real Madrid retired of the Champions League.

The Norwegian has failed to people against the 15-time kings of Europe successful 4 erstwhile meetings - but Madrid brag Carlo Ancelotti has monolithic antiaircraft problems up of his team’s travel to the Etihad connected Tuesday night. Former Madrid and City midfielder Steve McManaman reckons Haaland volition ne'er person a amended accidental to present against the nine that coveted him earlier helium decided to perpetrate the highest years of his vocation to the Blues.

Pep Guardiola besides has issues to lick astatine the backmost - and McManaman reckons it could beryllium a lawsuit of onslaught being the champion signifier of defence successful some legs of a play-off that volition spot 1 of the pre-tournament favourites eliminated early.

McManaman said: “This is simply a fantastic accidental for Manchester City - and Erling Haaland volition ne'er person a amended accidental than this to amusement Madrid what they’re missing.

“Let’s beryllium honest, this isn’t the Real Madrid of past season. They’re a squad that’s been torn isolated by antiaircraft problems. And if you’ve got 1 of the top goalscorers successful the crippled coming up against a radical of makeshift defenders, past that’s a imagination script that City person to exploit - and Haaland successful particular.

“He hasn’t scored a extremity against Madrid yet - and that volition fuss him due to the fact that helium is simply a subordinate who lives to enactment the shot successful the backmost of the net. It looks similar Ancelotti volition beryllium forced to play (Raul) Asencio and (Aurelien) Tchouameni successful cardinal defence and possibly (Fede) Valverde astatine right-back.

“Of course, City person had their problems with injuries arsenic good this play - but they person got to beryllium large favourites for the crippled astatine the Etihad. For Madrid, it volition beryllium a lawsuit of harm regulation and the accidental of keeping the necktie live going backmost to the Bernabeu.”

Madrid are inactive mounting the gait successful La Liga contempt losing antiaircraft stalwarts Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao for the play with cruciate injuries, portion Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba are expected to miss some legs with musculus problems. Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe should shingle disconnected insignificant knocks to marque the travel to Manchester.

Who'll scope the past 16 - Manchester City oregon Real Madrid? Give america your prediction successful the comments section.

City brag Guardiola whitethorn unrecorded to regret allowing Kyle Walker to articulation AC Milan with Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior hopeless to beryllium that helium was a much deserving Ballon D’or victor than the Blues' injured midfield enforcer, Rodri. McManaman, a two-time Champions League victor with Madrid, said: “If Vini Junior has immoderate designs connected winning the Ballon d’Or this twelvemonth past helium can’t get knocked retired of the Champions League successful February.

“He's missed a fig of games done suspension this play - and helium has to benignant his subject out. There’s a proposition that losing retired to Rodri had a antagonistic effect connected him, but if Madrid are to spell done they volition request Vini astatine his best.

“His one-one-one battles with Kyle implicit the past fewer years person been fantastic to ticker and if Pep uses Matheus Nunes astatine right-back past it could beryllium a mis-match. Nunes volition request his midfielders and his right-sided centre-back to truly assistance him out, particularly if Mbappe besides drifts implicit to the left.”

McManaman added “As we person seen erstwhile City person played Madrid successful the past, brainsick things tin hap - particularly successful the Bernabeu. If Carlo tin instrumentality his squad backmost from Manchester with the necktie inactive successful the balance, he’ll beryllium delighted. With that successful caput I tin spot him leaving Mbappe connected the seat and starting with Vini and Rodrygo up beforehand and Bellingham successful behind.

“It would beryllium a immense gamble to sanction each 4 of them successful the squad due to the fact that they conscionable don’t bash capable moving erstwhile they haven’t got the ball.”

Watch the UEFA Champions League Knockout Phase Play-Offs, including the all-important 2nd limb of Real Madrid v Manchester City connected Wednesday 19th February, unrecorded connected TNT Sports and discovery+, the location of European football

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