Played
September 18, 2012 2:45 PM EDT
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
Referee: D. Skomina
Attendance: 70381
September 18, 2012 2:45 PM EDT
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
Referee: D. Skomina
Attendance: 70381
Champions League Preview: Real Madrid - Manchester City
Jose Mourinho's side will be hoping to put a horrendous start to their league season behind them as they host one of the competitions dark horses on home soil
By James McManus
Getty Images
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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REAL MADRID
 Casillas Arbeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo Alonso, Khedira Ozil, Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo Benzema |
MANCHESTER CITY  Hart Maicon, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy Yaya Toure, Barry Silva, Nasri Tevez, Aguero |
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has a fully fit squad to pick from going into his side's first Champions League game of the season, but the rumored dissatisfaction of star player Cristiano Ronaldo continues to hit the headlines at home and abroad.
The Portuguese manager's opposite number Roberto Mancini has no fresh injury concerns going into the game, but there are still a number of players who will miss the trip.
Brazilian right back Maicon could be handed a European debut for his new club after starting against Stoke, with Micah Richards still battling an ankle injury and Pablo Zabaleta nursing a hamstring strain.
Elsewhere, Jack Rodwell may manage to shake off a knee injury in time, while Sergio Aguero could still play some part as he completes an earlier than expected return from his own knee problem.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Real Madrid's defeat to Sevilla in its last league outing saw them fall eight points behind Barcelona after just four games.
- Los Blancos have won this tournament, in its various previous incarnations, more than any other side in Europe, triumphing nine times in the past.
- However, the club last won the Champions League back in 2001-02 under the guidance of current Spain boss Vicente del Bosque.
- Madrid's defeat against Sevilla was its second in the league so far, the same number they suffered during the whole of last season on their way to the title.
- Manchester City is yet to keep a clean sheet so far this season.
- Sergio Aguero (pictured right) was the club's top scorer in Europe last season with five goals.
- Manchester City beat last season's finalists Bayern Munich 2-0 at home in the group stages. The German outfit went on to knock Real Madrid out at the semi-final stage.
- Roberto Mancini failed to win a major European trophy during his four-year spell in charge of Italian outfit Inter Milan, whereas his successor Jose Mourinho won the Champions League with the club in his second and final year at San Siro.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City
- 15.02 %
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Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
- 14.56 %
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Real Madrid 2-1 Manchester City
- 12.38 %
| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | Nov 21, 2012 | Manchester City 1 - Real Madrid 1 |
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| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | Sep 18, 2012 | Real Madrid 3 - Manchester City 2 |
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Real Madrid
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| Jun 1, 2013 | Real Madrid 4 - Osasuna 2 | LIGA |
| May 26, 2013 | Real Sociedad 3 - Real Madrid 3 | LIGA |
| May 17, 2013 | Real Madrid 1 - Atletico Madrid 2 | ESPC |
| May 11, 2013 | Espanyol 1 - Real Madrid 1 | LIGA |
| May 8, 2013 | Real Madrid 6 - Malaga 2 | LIGA |
Manchester City
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| May 25, 2013 | Manchester City 5 - Chelsea 3 | FR |
| May 23, 2013 | Chelsea 3 - Manchester City 4 | FR |
| May 19, 2013 | Manchester City 2 - Norwich City 3 | EPL |
| May 14, 2013 | Reading 0 - Manchester City 2 | EPL |
| May 11, 2013 | Manchester City 0 - Wigan Athletic 1 | FA |
| 1 | Iker Casillas | Goalkeeper |
| 17 | Arbeloa | Defender |
| 3 | Pepe | Defender |
| 12 | Marcelo | Defender |
| 19 | Raphaël Varane | Defender |
| 22 | Ángel Di María | Midfielder |
| 6 | Sami Khedira | Midfielder |
| 14 | Xabi Alonso | Midfielder |
| 5 | Michael Essien | Midfielder |
| 7 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Striker |
| 20 | Gonzalo Higuaín | Striker |
| 13 | Adán | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Sergio Ramos | Defender |
| 15 | Fabio Coentrao | Defender |
| 8 | Kaká | Midfielder |
| 10 | Mesut Özil | Midfielder |
| 16 | Luka Modric | Midfielder |
| 9 | Karim Benzema | Striker |
| 1 | Joe Hart | Goalkeeper |
| 22 | Gael Clichy | Defender |
| 3 | Maicon | Defender |
| 4 | Vincent Kompany | Defender |
| 33 | Matija Nastasic | Defender |
| 21 | David Silva | Striker |
| 18 | Gareth Barry | Midfielder |
| 8 | Samir Nasri | Midfielder |
| 42 | Yaya Touré | Midfielder |
| 14 | Javi García | Midfielder |
| 32 | Carlos Tévez | Striker |
| 30 | Costel Pantilimon | Goalkeeper |
| 13 | Aleksandar Kolarov | Defender |
| 5 | Pablo Zabaleta | Defender |
| 6 | Joleon Lescott | Defender |
| 17 | Jack Rodwell | Midfielder |
| 16 | Sergio Agüero | Striker |
| 10 | Edin Dzeko | Striker |
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
12 | 0 |
|
Robert Lewandowski Striker Borussia Dortmund |
10 | 1 |
|
Thomas Müller Striker FC Bayern München |
8 | 1 |
|
Lionel Messi Striker Barcelona |
8 | 0 |
|
Burak Yılmaz Striker Galatasaray |
8 | 0 |
