Manchester City and Real Madrid starting line-ups ‘leaked’ ahead of Champions League semi-final showdown

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City starting XI to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final second-leg on Wednesday night has now appeared on social media.

The two sides will go head-to-head in east Manchester looking to book their place in the final of this year’s competition, as Serie A giants Inter await in the Istanbul-based final on Saturday 10 June 2023.

Following the first-leg in the Spanish capital last week, Manchester City and Real Madrid will kick things off at the Etihad Stadium with the aggregate scoreline finely poised at 1-1 courtesy of those goals from Vinicius Jr and Kevin De Bruyne.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday afternoon, City boss Pep Guardiola reassured supporters that he would not be ‘overthinking’ his tactical set-up or starting line-up against Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

It is that claim that has now seemingly been backed up by his starting XI, with the Catalan coach’s selection of players now having been ‘leaked’ on social media in the run-up to the official confirmation of the two teams on Wednesday evening.

According to Twitter user MCFCTone, Manchester City’s starting XI to take on Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium will be unchanged from the first-leg: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish.

Similarly, Real Madrid have also seemingly had their starting line-up leaked on social media ahead of Tuesday evening, as journalist José Luis Sánchez reports: Courtois; Carvajal, Militão, Rüdiger, Alaba; Valverde, Kroos, Modrić, Camavinga; Vinicius, Benzema.

Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti are expected to confirm their respective starting line-ups for the clash at the Etihad Stadium from 18:30 BST, with kick-off in the Champions League semi-final second-leg scheduled for 20:00 BST.

Following tonight’s contest, Manchester City will then have the opportunity to win the Premier League title in front of their home support on Sunday afternoon, as they host Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.