Real Madrid vs Manchester City Prediction 09.04.2024

• Competition: UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Finals 1st leg
• Date: Tuesday, 9th, April 2024
• Kickoff: 20:00 UK / 21.00 CEST
• Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (Madrid)

This could be dubbed the pre-final final as record-winners Real Madrid take on defending champions Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City Betting Tips: X2 (Double chance)

The most recent European outing didn't quite go to plan for Los Blancos, who had their faithful fans on the edge of their seats literally until the final seconds, but somehow managed to hold persistent Leipzig to a 1-1 draw in the capital to secure a last-four spot thanks to a 2-1 aggregate victory.

The lackluster displays against Bundesliga sides prompted a wake-up call for the dormant Real Madrid, and they responded in commanding style, breezing to three dazzling league wins in a row against very tricky sides such as Celta Vigo 4-2, Osasuna 4-0, and Athletic Bilbao 2-0 last time out.

The trio of stellar triumphs have helped Ancelotti's squad maintain a comfortable eight-point gap over arch-rivals Barcelona in second place, while also injecting a strong dose of confidence ahead of the season-defining clash, where they will aim to seize the first-leg lead before the daunting trip to the Etihad.

Even with home comfort, beating Man City will be easier said than done, especially considering that Los Blancos have struggled to contain Guardiola's formidable side, as they quietly boast a solitary triumph in the last seven H2H's, winning them only in May 2022 with a 3-1 in extra time, after which they lifted the "Big Ears" trophy for the eighth and final time.

As the Madrid giant enters fully refreshed, having had ample time to prepare for the first-leg quarterfinal clash, the island giant was preoccupied with league duties, solidifying their position in the three-horse race for the Premier League title by sprinting to a dominant 4-2 victory against struggling Crystal Palace.

With Saturday's dismantling of the London Eagles, Man City extended their eye-catching unbeaten run to 25 matches in all competitions and will be optimistic about securing a positive result in the Spanish capital midweek, given their last six UCL meetings with Real have seen them emerge victorious on five occasions.

In the first 90 minutes of this "final-before-the-final" clash, a draw seems like a plausible outcome, but we still believe that Guardiola and his disciples will do enough to leave the Spanish capital with a positive result, especially considering Real's struggle to contend with the current continental powerhouse without a true striker.