Manchester City has the best chance to win the Champions League this season. While the first match of the Champions League semi-final between Man City and Real Madrid ended as a 1-1 stalemate, the second game was one of pure dominance from Inter Milan. We can fairly see two finalists now unless there is an upset.
Yes, Manchester City vs Inter Milan looks to be the likeliest final. There are facts supporting this claim and there is form strengthening the same claim. As for the facts, Real Madrid have only won 2 out of their last 9 games when they have failed to win in the first leg of a knockout game. According to Opta Joe, both those wins came against Manchester United in the 2000 and 2013 season.
Man City only have to pass the Madrid test in the semi-finals. Once they do that, they will be facing a fairly easy side on paper. Irrespective of who wins the other semi, both Milan teams are slow in transition, lack speed on the pitch, and don’t have a strengthened backline. The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, etc are too good for them to hold.
Los Blancos will travel to Etihad on Wednesday where they lost 4-3 to City last time they visited Manchester. We can only expect the same result this time but can not be assured of Carlo Ancelotti’s team losing the tie.
Pep Guardiola knows that this title has to be earned and can’t be won by just having the best footballing team at disposal. The same team has to perform during must win games and Man City’s history to lose knockout matches doesn’t help them either. The Blues of Manchester have given away the leads or win in the past few years and will have to be aware of not doing the same against Madrid.
If the journey of winning over Real Madrid is achieved, reaching the ultimate goal won’t be faced with many challenges.
