Real Madrid and Manchester City will face each other in a UEFA Champions League semi-final on May 9 (Tuesday) at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The European champions will be playing their 11th UCL semi-final since 2011. While City will feature in their club’s fourth semi-final in the competition’s history.
Speaking ahead of the tie, Madrid’s midfielder Luka Modric said that the game will be difficult, but we will give our all.
"The game against City will be difficult, just like every season against good rivals. It's 50-50. We are going to give everything to try to reach the final," said the 37-year-old midfielder.
Madrid’s Copa del Rey final hero Rodrygo Goes, who scored two goals to win the title for Madrid also had his say on the upcoming clash with the English club.
“I have been watching Manchester City's left back whom I will be playing against,” said the Brazilian forward.
City’s midfielder Bernardo Silva also addressed the media, saying that we [City] do not fear any team
“We have a lot of respect for Real Madrid but no fear. Why should we fear them? We have that objective (to eliminate Real Madrid) knowing we lost under difficult circumstances last year," said the Portuguese midfielder.
"It's not about the badge. If Real Madrid didn't have Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Vinicius or Karim Benzema they wouldn't win anything, because the shirt doesn't do it by itself," he concluded.
The two clubs will be facing each other for the third time in the semi-finals of UCL. There last two meetings were in the 2015/16 and 2021/22 season where Los Blancos defeated the English club.
It must be noted Real Madrid’s Eder Militao will miss the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu due to a suspension. Meanwhile, City have no suspended players ahead of their first leg against the Los Blancos.
Lineups:
Real Madrid: Courtois, Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga, Modric, Kroos, Valverde, Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Junior.
Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Ruben Dias, Akanji, De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Haaland, Grealish.