Next Wednesday at 21:00, Real Madrid will play Manchester City in the Santiago Bernabéu. Having overcome Erling Haaland’s two-goal lead at the Etihad to win the match with their trademark “Champions spirit” in Europe’s top club competition, Carlo Ancelotti’s team enters this encounter with the lead from the first leg. Jude Bellingham won the match with a crucial goal assisted by Vinícius Júnior in stoppage time after Brahim Díaz had tied the score.

El Larguero’s ‘El Sanedrín de futbolistas’ segment features Álvaro Benito’s analysis of the forthcoming encounter. “You’re always worried because it’s Manchester City and we’re in the Champions League Round of 16,” he says. Eliminating it would be terrible. He adds that since Manchester City’s chances of winning the Premier League are all but gone, they are essentially playing for their season.

Benito admits that even though City defeated Newcastle 4-0 in the Premier League over the weekend, the true question is whether Guardiola would have the guts to bench some of his best players against Real Madrid. He acknowledges that he is simultaneously hopeful and anxious.

Real Madrid has a significant lead, he adds, noting that “the team found spaces and defended quite well” in the first game. Very few teams can beat them when they defend well. As demonstrated in the Etihad encounter, the offensive players can create a lot of opportunities if they link and support the overall effort, but the defense unit’s failure to fulfill its duties presents a challenge.