A few days before the second leg of the Champions League play-offs for the round of 16 between Real Madrid and Manchester City, Pep Guardiola loses a key player. This is good news for the Madrid side, particularly Vinícius Júnior.
It has been a disastrous week for Manchester City. Beaten at home by Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola’s team will attempt to pull off a comeback at the Santiago Bernabéu next Wednesday. For this crucial match in the race for a place in the last 16, the Spanish coach will have to do without Manuel Akanji. Already deprived of Kyle Walker, who left for AC Milan in January, Pep has now lost the Swiss defender for a long period after he was substituted at half-time during Tuesday night’s match against Madrid.
Akanji, a real defensive asset for Manchester City, had been keeping Vinícius Júnior in check before picking up his injury. After the introduction of academy graduate Rico Lewis, things became more complicated for City’s defence. Indeed, much younger and less experienced, Lewis struggled against the Madrid winger. In the second half, the left flank became highly active, as seen in Real Madrid’s third goal, scored by Jude Bellingham. To compensate for this setback, Pep Guardiola may have to rely on Matheus Nunes, a natural midfielder who occasionally fills in at the back.
A crucial match for Vinícius Júnior
Regardless of the tactical adjustments Manchester City make for the return leg of the play-offs, Vinícius Júnior and his attacking teammates must maintain their strong form. Despite Real Madrid holding the advantage in this tie, they must remain wary of the Sky Blues, who will give everything next Wednesday. With Manuel Akanji’s injury, City’s defence takes another hit, and Madrid must capitalise on this by scoring early in the game.
In his post-match press conference following Tuesday’s defeat, Guardiola acknowledged the brilliance of Vinícius Júnior, who delivered an outstanding performance and claimed the Man of the Match award despite the pressure from the home crowd. This time, in the cauldron of the Bernabéu, things could become even more challenging for Manchester City amid the passionate support of Madrid’s fans. One thing is certain: qualification is all that matters to Los Blancos.
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