Real Madrid to make major Santiago Bernabeu change ahead of Manchester City showdown

La Liga giants Real Madrid are plotting a significant change to their Santiago Bernabeu stadium ahead of the Champions League semi-final clash with Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti are set to face off in the last-four of Europe’s premier club competition later this season, in what will be a two-legged repeat of last season’s dramatic semi-final affair that saw Real Madrid come out as victors.

The Spanish club overcame the challenge of Frank Lampard’s Chelsea at the quarter-final stage, winning both portions of 90 minutes at the Bernabeu and Stamford Bridge, while Manchester City defeated German giants Bayern Munich across two-legs.

However, a new report has detailed how Manchester City will be taking on Real Madrid on a different playing surface to the one that entertained Chelsea in the Spanish capital, with plans to replace the turf ahead of the contest.

That is according to the information of Mario Cortegana for The Athletic, who reports that Real Madrid will change the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu before the UEFA Champions League semi-final clash with Manchester City.

The iconic home of Los Blancos continues to undergo a major renovation, but development has had a noticeable knock-on effect on the quality of Real Madrid’s playing surface.

In fact, the playing surface at the Santiago Bernabeu has already been replaced a staggering four times this season already, with the latest resurfacing taking the total up to five in time for the meeting with Manchester City on May 9.

Manchester City will welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium for the second-leg of the Champions League semi-final on May 17, with an away trip to Everton in the Premier League preceding the contest and a clash against Chelsea at home to follow it.

The double-header against Real Madrid is part of Manchester City’s pursuit of a treble this season, as they take on Manchester United in the FA Cup final on June 3rd, as well as Arsenal in a fiercely-contested Premier League title race.

City take on Mikel Arteta’s side at the Etihad Stadium this Wednesday, in a clash that could Pep Guardiola’s side to within just two points of the current league leaders while holding two games in hand – should they win.