Real Madrid vs Manchester City: Predicted Lineups & Academy Midfielder Poised for Start

Real Madrid prepares to host Manchester City this Wednesday evening at the Santiago Bernabéu, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 CEST. Both teams are grappling with notable injury concerns ahead of this highly anticipated fixture, a repeat of encounters from the previous five seasons. Manager Alvaro Arbeloa will lead his side against Pep Guardiola for the first time.

Arbeloa will undoubtedly analyze their last encounter with City this season, which saw the English side emerge victorious with a 2-1 scoreline. For this crucial match, Real Madrid faces a considerable injury crisis, missing key players such as Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Eder Militao, Alvaro Carreras, David Alaba, and Dani Ceballos. Further doubts loom over the fitness of Eduardo Camavinga and Dean Huijsen, while Franco Mastantuono is unavailable due to suspension. Manchester City, in contrast, appears to have a broader range of options despite missing Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic.

Academy Midfielder Thiago Pitarch Poised for Third Consecutive Start

Reports suggest that young midfielder Thiago Pitarch is expected to make his third consecutive start for Real Madrid. The only anticipated alterations from their recent 2-1 victory against Celta Vigo involve the possible inclusion of Huijsen and Gonzalo Garcia, potentially replacing Raul Asencio or Brahim Diaz.

Conversely, another publication forecasts both changes along with a surprise inclusion of Dani Carvajal, potentially in response to a recent challenging performance from a full-back. This source also suggests Camavinga could start ahead of Pitarch.

Manchester City Expected to Deploy Attacking Lineup for Victory

Pep Guardiola is anticipated to field an aggressive lineup at the Bernabéu, with predictions suggesting only two recognized defenders in his starting eleven. Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes, both adapted to full-back roles, are expected to be tasked with neutralizing the threats of Fede Valverde and Vinicius Jr. On the left wing, Jeremy Doku is tipped to start over Antoine Semenyo, and there's a possibility of a surprise start for Omar Marmoush.

While recent trends might indicate Marmoush starting on the bench, Rayan Cherki is highlighted as Manchester City's primary creative force. This match will also offer Real Madrid a closer look at Rodri Hernandez, a player reportedly on their summer transfer wish list.