Arsenal
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Manchester Metropolis face their greatest activity of the UEFA Champions League group section, as they journey to the Bernabeu to face Actual Madrid.
The Blues are simply outdoors computerized play off locations, with their opponents two factors forward of them in sixth.
Final trip in Europe, a closely rotated Metropolis misplaced disappointingly to Bayer Leverkusen, while Xabi Alonso’s Madrid beat Olympiacos 4-3 in a stunner.
Issues have improved domestically for Metropolis since then with three straight wins in opposition to Leeds United, Fulham and Sunderland, while Los Blancos misplaced 2-0 at dwelling to Celta Vigo on Sunday night after being decreased to 9 gamers.
Listed here are 5 issues to look out for as Metropolis journey to one of the crucial iconic stadiums in Europe:
Pep Guardiola appears to be settled on ten of his beginning workforce proper now – with the one separation being between his two new midfielders.
Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki have been rotated with one another not too long ago and each present totally different qualities.
Reijnders is comfy on the ball and supplies power to midfield, in addition to field crashing capability.
Cherki in the meantime has majestic technical capability and was participant of the match in opposition to Sunderland, with two assists together with a powerful rabona.
I believe that with Madrid’s present defensive deficiencies, Guardiola will line up with Cherki because the extra offensive possibility, however previous video games in opposition to Actual Madrid may properly give the Metropolis boss an inclination to be extra cautious.
Doku concentrating on the dearth of Madrid proper again
In Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal, Actual Madrid are lacking two of the most effective fullbacks on the earth via damage.
The subsequent best choice for Madrid can be to play Federico Valverde there, however taking him out of the midfield considerably weakens them in that side.
That probably means an inexperienced makeshift will probably be deployed there – and Jeremy Doku will probably be licking his lips.
The Belgian winger is the most effective one vs one dribbler on the earth and has loved his most fruitful season thus far, shining in huge video games in opposition to Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
He can add Madrid to his portfolio tonight, and if he does certainly get the higher of his full again we are able to count on Metropolis to return out on prime.
Donnarumma’s first big take a look at
Gianluigi Donnarumma was signed for matches like this.
The Italian goalkeeper was instrumental in PSG’s Champions League success final season, and that is his first huge European sport between the sticks for Metropolis.
He’s loved begin to life on the Etihad, and brings a way of composure and management to what can typically be a nervy backline.
However in opposition to the Galacticos of Madrid, he’ll have his first actual take a look at the place we are able to really choose simply how essential he may be for Metropolis this season and past.
Haaland getting probabilities on the counter…
Madrid don’t sit again and defend on the Bernabeu – their followers merely received’t permit it.
Alonso is already a person below strain and desires a giant win tonight to be able to get again of their good books (or, within the phrases of some Spanish media, to save lots of his job.)
This is good news for Erling Haaland. Metropolis’s quantity 9 thrives with house in behind, and he ought to get that in abundance in opposition to Los Blancos.
…however Vinicius and Mbappe additionally hanging on the break
The Blues nonetheless should watch out about what comes at them the opposite means.
Vinicius Junior tends to play with some extent to show in opposition to Metropolis. Abdukodir Khusanov did job in opposition to him final season, however Matheus Nunes may properly wrestle if he’s not having one in every of his higher video games.
Kylian Mbappe is supposedly “injured” however having been named within the matchday squad, I’d be stunned if he doesn’t function in any respect.
Each of them are quick and harmful working with the ball and in behind, and Mbappe particularly pulled Metropolis’s defence aside on this fixture final season.
It’ll be a excessive scoring one as Metropolis and Madrid each wrestle defensively while excelling going forwards, and in the long run it could possibly be Madrid’s accidents that find yourself being the distinction between the 2 groups.
