Early team news: One line-up revealed for Manchester City vs Real Madrid (UEFA Champions League Last-16 Play-Off First-Leg)

Manchester City welcome Real Madrid in the first-leg of the two sides’ meeting in a UEFA Champions League last-16 play-off tie this month.

Both Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti will be desperate to avoid an early exit from the competition in its new format after progressing into the play-off round from the league phase and City scraping through in 22nd position.

City come into the midweek contest after strengthening their pursuit of domestic silverware this season by coming from behind to defeat League One side Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road on Saturday afternoon thanks to goals from Abdukodir Khusanov and Kevin De Bruyne.

As for Los Blancos, they have made the trip to the Etihad Stadium off the back of a derby day draw at the hands of Atletico Madrid with Kylian Mbappe responding to Julian Alvarez’s first-half penalty to secure a 1-1 draw in La Liga.

Manchester City were left sweating following the weekend’s action over the fitness of Nico Gonzalez, after the Spaniard was replaced with a hip problem inside the opening 25 minutes of the contest but returned to training immediately ahead of Tuesday night’s affair.

Rodri and Oscar Bobb remain the only players sidelined through recovery processes, with the latter suffering a setback in his recovery after rolling his ankle in a recent training session having returned to City Football Academy duties in early January.

Ahead of the confirmed team news from the Manchester City side of things at the Etihad Stadium tonight, Real Madrid have confirmed their full line-up and substitutes for the clash over an hour before the Premier League champions.

Real Madrid’s starting line-up: Courtois, Valverde, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy, Camavinga, Ceballos, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vini Jr, Mbappe.

Substitutes: Lunin, Modric, Arda Guler, Endrick, Vallejo, Fran Garcia, Brahim, Gonzalo, Jacobo Ramon, Chema, Lorenzo Aguado.

Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti are expected to confirmed their respective Manchester City and Real Madrid starting line-ups around 18:45 (UK) on Tuesday night.

Now confirmed.