Real Madrid v Manchester City ‘seems like a clásico’ now, says Carlo Ancelotti On the eve of Real Madrid’s Champions League playoff first leg at Manchester City, Carlo Ancelotti billed the clashes between the sides as a “clásico”.
Ancelotti has to negotiate a defensive crisis after Lucas Vázquez, the makeshift right-back, joined Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba, Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal on the injured list when sustaining a foot injury in the weekend 1-1 draw with Atlético Madrid.
Madrid’s trip to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night and the return at the Santiago Bernabéu next Wednesday will be the fifth time in six years the sides have played each other in the knockout phase.
Real Madrid lead La Liga, while City are fifth in the Premier League, 15 points behind Liverpool.
“Yes, it is the best rival with the best manager, the team that passed through this qualification [their tie] has the possibility to arrive far in the competition.”.
