Manchester City take on Spanish giants Real Madrid in the playoffs of the Champions League and they could receive some serious boosts ahead of what could be a decisive game
Jude Bellingham will be one of seven Real Madrid players walking a disciplinary tightrope in the first leg of his side’s Champions League play-off clash with Manchester City.
The Premier League champions and the Spanish side come together next week as they attempt to reach the last-16. Both clubs finished outside of the automatic qualification places after indifferent league phases.
City just about squeezed through after beating Club Brugge on the final day, while Real Madrid marginally missed out on an automatic spot in the knockout rounds. And with just a few days to go until the game, Real will be sweating on the discipline of some of the star names.
As it stands, seven Los Blancos stars are walking a suspension tightrope. Each of Bellingham, Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and Endrick all accumulated two bookings during the league phase.
And according to UEFA rules, those bookings carry over into the playoffs, with an additional yellow card earning players a one-match suspension. It means that should any of the seven be booked in the first-leg at the Etihad next week, they will miss the decisive second leg at the Bernabeu later in the month.
Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti is also under threat. The Italian tactician was also booked twice during the league phase and another yellow card could see him be banned from the touchline.
While Real are under serious threat of suspensions, the same cannot quite be said of City. Only Ruben Dias has accumulated two bookings so far so will be banned should he pick up another against the Spanish side.
Speaking ahead of the clash with Real, City boss Pep Guardiola said: “It looks like a derby already, four years in a row facing Madrid. Madrid or Bayern, both were really tough, hopefully we can arrive in the first leg here and the next one in Madrid as best as possible.”
City will be hoping to avoid a similar fate to last season. They clashed with Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, only to lose on penalties after a 4-4 aggregate draw.