‘Etihad on track to be Real’s cursed stadium’
WHAT SPANISH PRESS IS SAYING AHEAD OF THE BIG GAME
REAL Madrid don’t have fond memories of visits to the Etihad Stadium and will have to be at their best to overcome Manchester City in the second-leg quarter-final tie this week.
The sides will meet tonight after a 3-3 draw at the Bernabeu last week. Domestically, City positioned themselves at the top of the Premier League table with a 5-1 win over Luton Town, as Liverpool and Arsenal fell to defeats to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, respectively.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid came away 1-0 winners at Mallorca, thanks to Aurelien Tchouameni’s sole strike. Carlo Ancelotti made a number of changes to his team ahead of their trip to Manchester.
But the Italian boss will not be able to count on Tchouameni in Manchester, who will be suspended for the accumulation of yellow cards.
M.E.N. Sport has taken a look at what the Spanish media has had to say ahead of the clash.
■ AS: RODRYGO, THE EXPERT
Journalist Manu de Juan writes: “The game at Mallorca was what Carlo Ancelotti anticipated: victory, despite resting a host of players for Wednesday’s match. Vinicius played half hour and Rodrygo was rested.
“Rodrygo is the third most used player by Ancelotti, behind Federico Valverde and Antonio Rudiger. But the Italian coach decided to preserve the former Santos man, knowing that he will feel in his natural environment at the Etihad and that most of the chances Real will get, will probably come through him.
“Ancelotti will be aware that Pep Guardiola will know about the Brazilian’s qualities. City suffered at the hands of Rodrygo who netted one of the goals in the first leg, in a way that summed his qualities well: getting into a clear area and his speed allows him to get ahead of the opposition to find the right space.
“It was his third goal against City in the Champions League and they have already become his favourite victim, alongside Chelsea and Galatasaray.
“His last two goals before last week won’t be forgotten by Guardiola.
“Those goals gave Real a glimpse of hope during the 2021/22 semifinals tie, which ended 6-5 on aggregate as the Spanish giants booked a place in the final in Paris. Rodrygo averages 0.42 goals per game in the Champions League, while in La Liga, it drops to 0.19.
“He is going through a key period in his career and Ancelotti will certainly need him to be at his best so Real can qualify for the semi-finals.”
■ MUNDO DEPORTIVO: ETIHAD STADIUM - THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR REAL MADRID
News agency EFE writes: “Three defeats in their last three visits. They conceded eight goals in their last two meetings in Manchester, where City are unbeaten in 41 games.
“This is the biggest challenge to be overcome by the king of the competition.
“There are bad memories you wish you could erase, and that 4-0 defeat is one of those memories. It happened during last year’s semifinal, a day where Real did not compete and Ancelotti was unable to get his ideas across to his players.
“Bernardo Silva scored twice in the first half and there was no response from a team that is used to winning big in Europe.
“It was one of Real Madrid’s darkest nights in the Champions League and Ancelotti’s worst defeat in charge. Wednesday will be a new opportunity for him to take revenge.
“Real were knocked out of the competition twice at Etihad, in 2020 and 2023. Another defeat and Etihad is on track to become a cursed stadium for the club, unless Vinicius, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham put a stop to it.”
■ MARCA: THE MOST IMPORTANT WEEK OF THE YEAR
Roberto Palomar writes: “There are three Champions League matches that will require convincing responses ahead of the biggest week of the year. It is a week that could see the trio secure a place in the semi-finals of the competition.
“Starting with Real, the team showed its usual dose of commitment in Mallorca. Ancelloti made changes to his team and those players stepped up but one thing is certain, life will be more difficult without Tchouameni.”
Raul Varela added: “Real Madrid won in Mallorca with minimum effort despite rotation in the team. Ancelotti was asked about players’ fitness and he stated that Real aren’t going to beat City through fitness, but through attitude.
“And these are the elements needed ahead of the second leg, along with focus, bravery, discipline and ambition.
“And I think he’s right. Ancelotti, to win, must vindicate his idea of football, which involves sweating through your shirt but above all, to break down Pep Guardiola’s team. Rodri won’t be rested as suggested Guardiola, but their defence will need strength to stop Vinicius - City’s main fear.
“The only doubt, as surprising as it may seem, is knowing whether Kevin De Bruyne will be needed despite taking into account his creativity and goal scoring capacity but notable defensive lapses could lead to dangerous counter attacks. At the Etihad, Madrid will have to replicate the first half of what they did at Bernabeu.”
■ ABC: THE KEY DILEMMA FOR ANCELOTTI
Ruben Canizares writes: “Ancelotti was asked last Saturday following the win at Mallorca if Antonio Rudiger would start on Wednesday.
“The German defender, who has not been a regular starter, was sensational on a one-on-one with Erling Haaland in the first leg.
“Eder Militao was not able to play in the first game due to having returned from injury, but Ancelotti’s answer was: “Madrid is Rudiger and 10 others,” therefore, the doubt is not whether Rudiger will start but who he will be partnered up with in the heart of defence.
“With Tchouameni suspended and David Alaba ruled out for the rest of the season, Ancelotti will have to choose between Nacho and Militao. Ancelotti previously revealed that there was a 30 per cent chance that he would start against City.
“With that said, how is it possible for him to start on Wednesday, and face Haaland, in one of the most physical and mentally demanding games of the season?
“Having featured just a single minute against Mallorca, how will he be able to play against the best ‘9’ in the world and against the current champions of Europe?
“Nacho put in a good performance against Mallorca and although he has been under fire for making mistakes throughout the season, he has competed at the highest level, having played a total of 2,377 minutes in 35 games.
“He started 26 of those games.”
Ancellotti to win, must vindicate his idea of football, which involves sweating through your shirt Marca