Mueez Ajao
– Manchester City need “two exceptional games” to overcome Real Madrid and reach the Champions League final, said City boss Pep Guardiola.
– Premier League leaders City take on La Liga leaders Real in the first leg of the semi-final at home on Tuesday.
– Guardiola’s side lost 1-0 to Chelsea in their first Champions League final last season, while Real have been European champions 13 times.
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– “It is not necessary to say how good Real Madrid are,” said Guardiola.
– “If we have to compete with their history, we don’t have any chance. The history is there, we can’t change it, but it’s 11 against 11 with one ball moving.
– “We will try to be ourselves, compete well. We need to play two exceptional games to reach the final.”
– Guardiola will make late decisions on the fitness of England defenders John Stones and Kyle Walker, who are both doubts because of injuries.
– This is the third time in seven seasons that City have reached the last four, while Real are in the semi-finals for the 10th occasion in 12 years and aiming to win the tournament for the first time since they beat Liverpool 3-1 in the 2018 final.
– “It’s an honour to be here in the semi-finals against Real Madrid,” added Guardiola. “They’ve been here many times, we have in recent years.”
– City, who beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 on aggregate over two legs in the quarter-final, are one point ahead of Liverpool with five Premier League games to go, while Real have a 15-point La Liga advantage over Barcelona and only need one more point to be Spanish champions.
– The second leg of this semi-final will be played at the Bernabeu on 4 May with the final in Paris on 28 May. Liverpool and Spanish side Villarreal contest the other semi-final, with the first leg at Anfield on Wednesday.
