Real Madrid visit the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Manchester City, but who would join Karim Benzema in a combined XI?
The record-champions Galacticos are eying their 14th European Cup in 2022 and first title since 2018. The Citizens, meanwhile, are still chasing their first, after losing 1-0 to Chelsea in 2021 final. Continuing the trend of the past eight first-time finalists failing to win.
Chelsea could not defend their title after losing to Los Blancos in the quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate. Benzema secured Carlo Ancelotti’s side a 3-1 first-leg win by scoring a hat-trick away at Stamford Bridge before he finished the job 96 minutes into second-leg extra-time.
Only Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski heads Benzema in the Golden Boot race entering the semi-finals. The Poland international fired 13 goals but lost to Villarreal in the quarters. Benzema has scored 12, ahead of Sebastien Haller (11) and Mohamed Salah (8).
Riyad Mahrez, meanwhile, is Manchester City’s top scorer in the Champions League so far this term with six. But the Algerian has not fired since facing Sporting Lisbon in their last 16 first-leg routs. Kevin De Bruyne scored the only goal in their semi-final with Atletico Madrid.
So, based on their Champions League form this season, what would a combined line-up of Real Madrid and Manchester City stars look like ahead of their semi-final first-leg meeting?
GK – THIBAUT COURTOIS
Thibaut Courtois and Ederson have excelled in Europe in 2021/22, but it is the Real Madrid goalkeeper who edges ahead. Not only has the Belgian been busier than the Brazilian, but he has also been more productive. Courtois has four clean sheets to Ederson’s three so far.
Ancelotti has fielded Courtois once more than Pep Guardiola has called on Ederson. But he has also conceded the same amount of goals (4) over 137 more minutes. Courtois has also made more saves (41 to 11) and collected crosses more frequently (3 to 1), per SofaScore.
RB – KYLE WALKER
Kyle Walker’s pace has regularly proven beneficial for Manchester City in the Champions League this season. The England ace has also performed his defensive duties admirably if required. Walker will prove a big miss on Tuesday if he cannot overcome his ankle injury.
CB – EDER MILITAO, RUBEN DIAS
Eder Militao has regularly come to Real Madrid’s rescue to keep Courtois from having to make further saves. The Brazilian has mopped up possession and interrupted opposition attacks throughout. Guardiola will no doubt want to keep City’s play from the center-half.
Ancelotti will, likewise, look ahead to Tuesday’s encounter and see Ruben Dias as a center-half he must avoid. The £65m stars have produced a number of vital tackles on route to the semi-finals. His tackle to deny Lionel Messi in the group stage was a particularly stand-out one.
LB – JOAO CANCELO
Joao Cancelo has been one of Manchester City’s players of the season so far at both ends of the pitch. The full-back has produced an array of beautiful passes to thread teammates through on goal. But he will miss the semi-final first-leg on Tuesday through suspension.
CM – KEVIN DE BRUYNE, CASEMIRO, LUKA MODRIC
Casemiro has performed robust displays from the Real Madrid engine room that Ancelotti will hope he replicates against Manchester City. The Brazilian battles relentlessly and mops up any loose possession to let Luka Modric choose his moments to influence their matches.
Modric does not always dominate games but is capable of pulling off the spectacular with no effort to it. As is De Bruyne, who drives the Citizens up the pitch and is not afraid to get stuck in to snatch the ball back. He also pounced smartly to net the only hit against Atleti.
RW – RIYAD MAHREZ
Mahrez has often added quality to Manchester City’s wings when he has featured, even if he was unable to score. His movement can have the beating of most full-backs, is dangerous when cutting in on his left foot, has superb vision, and is their top-scorer in Europe with six.
ST – KARIM BENZEMA
Benzema will have his eyes on eclipsing Lewandowski’s haul of 13 goals when Real Madrid meets Manchester City in the Champions League. The 34-year-old has only failed to score in two of his nine UEFA appearances this season – firing blanks against Inter Milan and PSG.
But he responded from failing to fire in France by hitting a tie-winning hat-trick in the last 16 second-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. Benzema completed Los Blancos’ comeback with a 17-minute treble, capped with a powerful low drive into Gianluigi Donnarumma’s net.
LW – VINICIUS JUNIOR
Vinicius Junior has enjoyed a vastly influential Champions League campaign ahead of Real Madrid visiting Manchester City. The Brazilian winger has offered seven assists so far this season while scoring twice. He has offered an assist in each of his last three UEFA outings.
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