Real Madrid well rested to take on Man City

MADRID (AP):

Real Madrid hope to take advantage of extended rest in today’s Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, entering his record-extending 200th Champions League match, has had eight full days to prepare his squad for facing Pep Guardiola’s Man City for the third straight year in the knockout rounds.

City, meanwhile, played on Saturday at Crystal Palace in the English Premier League, and Guardiola wasn’t happy about the considerable difference in the team’s preparation time. Madrid’s last Spanish league match was on March 31, a 2-0 win at Athletic Bilbao. Madrid didn’t play this past weekend as it was reserved in the Spanish calendar for the Copa del Rey final.

“Maybe they have a bit of an advantage in this sense,” City midfielder Rodri said yesterday. “Let’s see how the team responds physically. Of course we would like to rest like them, but it’s something that doesn’t worry us.”

Ancelotti said he was not going to make any “rare” changes to his team or try anything too different tactically because of the extra time he had to prepare.

“It is an incredibly attractive match,” he said. “The quality of both sides will allow us to watch a beautiful match at a technical level. We think we will be better than City in some aspects, and they think they will be better than us in others.”

Madrid eliminated City two seasons ago with a late comeback in the second leg of the semi-finals at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where they have not lost in 27 straight games in all competitions dating back to last April.

But City got the better of Madrid last season, advancing after a 4-0 rout in the second leg of the semi-finals at home. Both clubs went on to win the Champions League title after eliminating their rival.

The last four matches between them produced 17 goals in total. They will have faced each other 12 times in 12 years after this season’s quarter-finals. So far there are four wins for City and three for Madrid, with three draws.

Both teams are trying to reach the semi-finals for the fourth straight time.

CITY’S INJURIES

City have injury concerns at full back, with captain and first-choice right back Kyle Walker hurt on England duty in the recent international break, and Guardiola’s two main options at left back – Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol – picking up injuries since the resumption of the Premier League.

“It is what it is,” Guardiola said. “We will play with 11 and try to adapt with the players that we have.”

None of Walker, Ake or Gvardiol were spotted in training yesterday, likely leaving Guardiola having to play 19-year-old Rico Lewis at right back and Manuel Akanji out of position at left back.

“They have some setbacks but have managed them well,” Ancelotti said. “They are solid in defence, this is not going to affect them.”

Madrid and City drew 1-1 in the first leg at the Bernabeu last season in a match marked by the duel between Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger and City striker Erling Haaland, who was the Champions League leading scorer at the time.

But Rüdiger and Madrid’s defence made sure Haaland wasn’t a factor, and the Norway international got only a few touches throughout the match.

“We did a great job controlling Haaland, who didn’t receive many passes,” Rüdiger said. “For this game it will be the same plan.”

Today’s matches

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

Real Madrid vs Manchester City

Both games kick off at 2 p.m.