5 UCL Semi-Final Tips: Real Madrid vs Manchester City - 9/5/23

Real Madrid hosts Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu tonight in the first leg of the Champions League’s semi-finals, with the holders looking to beat Pep Guardiola’s side in back-to-back semi-finals, while City are aiming to get a positive result to enhance their chances of reaching what would be their second final in this competition.

So far this season, Vinicius Jr has managed to score 22 goals and create 21 assists across all competitions, while City striker Haaland has found the back of the net 51 times in a record-breaking campaign for the Norwegian.

In terms of yellow cards, Carvajal has received seven yellow cards this season and will have his work cut out against Jack Grealish, while Bernardo Silva has also been booked seven times across all competitions this season.

Manchester City duo Rodri and Ruben Dias are involved in this tip to receive yellow cards. Rodri has been shown eight bookings during the 2022/23 campaign, while Ruben Dias has received five yellow cards.

Meanwhile, tenacious Uruguayan central midfielder Federico Valverde has been shown six yellow cards for Los Blancos this season, while Eduardo Camavinga has received ten across all competitions, having often found himself playing at left-back this season.

Manchester City can count themselves as very unfortunate to have failed to progress to the final of the Champions League when these two sides last faced off, with Haaland potentially set to be the difference maker in this tie having scored 51 times this season.

As mentioned above, Valverde has been shown six yellow cards across all competitions, while Antonio Rudiger has been given two, although he is known for being a feisty opponent from his Chelsea days having picked up 12 last season.

Vinicius Jr scored when these two sides met at the Etihad Stadium last season, as did Kevin De Bruyne. So far this season, the Brazilian forward averages two shots on target per game in this season’s Champions League, while Haaland averages 2.5.

Camavinga has struggled defensively when playing at left-back this season, having been shown ten yellow cards this season, while Kyle Walker will face a stern test when he comes up against the very pacey and talented Vinicius Jr.

Benzema averages 2.1 shots on target per game in this season’s Champions League and has managed to score 29 goals across all competitions this season.

Haaland currently averages 2.5 shots on target in the Champions League, while firing in 51 goals during his debut campaign for City.

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