Real Madrid Clash with Man City: Epic Showdown Preview, Bold Predictions and Starting XI Revealed

Real Madrid and Manchester City find themselves locked in another European encounter, as these two powerhouses prepare to meet once more in Matchday 6 of the Champions League league phase this Wednesday evening.

Considered by many as a 'Superclasico', these clubs have delivered some memorable Champions League battles in recent years, and their forthcoming encounter could be pivotal in determining Xabi Alonso's destiny at Madrid. The embattled Spanish coach is gearing up for his inaugural showdown against former boss Pep Guardiola from the touchline.

The home side enters this fixture following an unexpected loss to Celta Vigo in La Liga over the weekend, with Madrid quickly surrendering their hold on the Spanish championship after a promising autumn campaign.

Manchester City, by contrast, has secured three consecutive Premier League victories, and a commanding 3–0 triumph over Sunderland recently leaves them just two points behind Arsenal at the top of the table.

Nevertheless, Guardiola's team must improve if they hope to secure direct qualification to the knockout rounds. Their home loss to Bayer Leverkusen in Matchday 5 has left them outside the top eight positions with minimal room for mistakes in their final three matches.

Here is Sports Illustrated's preview of this crucial Champions League encounter.

What Time Does Real Madrid vs. Man City Kick Off?

Real Madrid vs. Man City Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)

Current Form (All Competitions)

How to Watch Real Madrid vs. Man City on TV, Live Stream

Real Madrid Team News

Real Madrid faces a lengthy injury roster, though the two players who received red cards in La Liga over the weekend remain eligible for Wednesday's match. Whether Alonso chooses to include either Fran García or Álvaro Carreras in his starting formation against Man City remains uncertain.

Dean Huijsen and David Alaba are expected to miss the fixture due to ongoing injury concerns, leaving Madrid severely depleted in defense. Êder Militão, Ferland Mendy, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal are also unavailable, potentially forcing Alonso to deploy Raúl Asencio at right-back on Wednesday evening, with Federico Valverde more likely to feature in the midfield.

Their diamond formation proved less successful without Alexander-Arnold on Saturday, and Alonso might contemplate a tactical shift for the arrival of Guardiola's squad.

Most crucially, top goalscorer Kylian Mbappé picked up a knee problem in the loss to Celta and remains questionable for this encounter. Madrid will delay their decision until the final moment to determine if Mbappé can participate. The forward's fellow Frenchman, Eduardo Camavinga, has encountered another fitness complication.

Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Man City

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs. Man City (4-2-3-1):Courtois; Asencio, Rüdiger, Carreras, García; Valverde, Tchouaméni; Mastantuono, Bellingham, Rodrygo; Vinicius Junior.

Man City Team News

City might not face the same injury crisis as their opponents, but Guardiola is still without several important players. Rodri continues his recovery, with the former Ballon d'Or recipient reportedly "several weeks" away from being "available" as of early December.

Mateo Kovačić, the most suitable replacement for Rodri in City's roster, faces an extended absence with a persistent ankle injury that is anticipated to sideline him until "the final stretch of the campaign." John Stones also entered the medical bay last week.

Man City Predicted Lineup vs. Real Madrid

Man City predicted lineup vs. Real Madrid (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait Nouri; Gonzalez; Silva, Cherki, Foden, Doku; Haaland.

Real Madrid vs. Man City Score Prediction

Considering the recent performances of both teams, City appears as the preferred choice for most observers. While Alonso battles speculation about his job security, Guardiola attempts to temper expectations regarding his team's championship aspirations.

Nevertheless, the situation isn't quite so clear-cut.

Alonso should find hope in City's defensive vulnerabilities, showing the type of exposure that allowed Fulham to score 20% of their entire season's goals in one waterlogged evening at Craven Cottage. Madrid may lack their star player Mbappé, but world-class talent spans their attacking line even without the French striker. A thrilling stalemate could be in store at the Bernabéu.

Prediction: Real Madrid 2–2 Man City