Manchester City will be out for a revenge when they face Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
The Spaniards edged City in last year’s last four. It was in part due to their never say die attitude and the English side’s implosion.
BET ON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – SPORTPESA
City were cruising at 5-3 up before Rodrygo netted two in two minutes and a Karim Benzema’s penalty that completed the comeback in extra-time.
Real Madrid went on to lift the European Cup for a 14th time.
Things are different now with the Spanish lineup in third on the LaLiga standings and Erling Haaland firing City most likely to a title defence.
Haaland has been smashing goals and records in his first season in England.
“With Erling we knew he scored everywhere,” said Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola after Haaland set a new Premier League record of 35 goals in a season last week.
“When you provide him with chances, he scores in all situations. Penalties, crosses, combinations, transitions. He can do many, many things.
“That’s why he scored a lot of goals. I have the feeling he wants to score goals because of his mentality.”
City are closing in on matching Manchester United’s feat of being the only side to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the same season in 1998/99.
Three wins from their final four games will retain the Premier League title for a third consecutive season.
The Premier League leaders are unbeaten in 20 games in all competitions and will also relish having home advantage for the second leg having won all 14 games at the Etihad in 2023.
“We are in exactly the same position as last year in Europe. Real Madrid again. Three games away from winning the Champions League,” City winger Jack Grealish told the Daily Mail.
“All I can say is that I have never had so much confidence and belief in my teammates and myself before a game as I have before going there next week.”
Madrid did bounce back from their Real Sociedad defeat to lift the Copa del Rey on the weekend beating Osasuna 2-1.