TEAM NEWS: Dzeko partners Aguero in attack for Manchester City against Real Madrid

Nov 21, 2012 6:40:00 PM

The Bosnian forward has largely been restricted to appearances off the bench this season, but spearheads an experimental line-up for the Citizens against the Liga champions

Roberto Mancini has dropped Carlos Tevez to the bench for Manchester City's Champions League tie against Real Madrid with Edin Dzeko handed a rare start.

The Bosnian has largely been used off the bench by the Italian manager this season, but he'll start up front alongside Sergio Aguero. Mario Balotelli remains absent from the squad.

City name five defenders in a hard to decipher line-up that could see Samir Nasri partner Yaya Toure in the heart of midfield, with Aleksandar Kolorov and Maicon as wing-backs. Gael Clichy was unable to shake off a knock he picked up against Aston Villa.

Jose Mourinho has selected former Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric, making only his second start in the Champions League for Madrid, with Kaka and Mesut Ozil left on the bench.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria complete a dangerous attack anchored by Xabi Alonso and Sami Kehdira.

Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic; Maicon, Yaya Toure, Nasri, Kolarov; Aguero, Dzeko, Silva.

Subs: Pantilimon, Lescott, Milner, Garcia, Barry, Sinclair, Tevez.

Real Madrid: Casillas; Arebeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Coentrao; Xabi Alonso, Khedira; Di Maria, Modric, Ronaldo; Benzema.

Subs: Adan, Varane, Albiol, Nacho, Kaka, Ozil, Callejon.

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Inside Goal.Com

Player Ratings: Siena 1-2 AC Milan
Goal was on hand to judge all the players as Allegri's men finished third in Serie A and secured a Champions League berth next season
Player Ratings: Barcelona 2-1 Valladolid
Goal rates the players on show as the newly-crowned Liga champions cruised past the challenge of Miroslav Djukic's men to keep up hopes of reaching 100 points
Arsenal hold their nerve in top-four battle
Arsene Wenger's side produced a clinical performance to secure a top-four Premier League finish but now they must kick on if they wish to challenge for honours next year
Player Ratings: Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal
Laurent Koscielny's 52nd-minute volley secured the Gunners the win over Alan Pardew's side and made sure they would be playing Champions League football next season
Player Ratings: West Brom 5-5 Man Utd
Sir Alex Ferguson was given a farewell to remember, but certainly not for the right reasons as the Romelu Lukaku-led hosts battled back from three goals down to earn an unlikely point