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Preview: Manchester City vs. Real Madrid

Preview: Man City vs. Real Madrid
© PA Photos
Sports Mole previews the Champions League tie between Manchester City and Real Madrid, where nothing but a win will do for Roberto Mancini's men.

Manchester City welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday needing a miracle to progress to the Champions League knockout stages.

The Premier League champions are winless in their opening four group matches and thus need victories from their final two games to have any chance of qualification.

Roberto Mancini may recall Pablo Zabaleta to his starting lineup, having rested the Argentine for the thrashing of Aston Villa on Saturday.

On the opposite side of the City defence, Gael Clichy could miss the match through injury, with Alexander Kolarov likely to deputise.

Mario Balotelli has not been included in City's last two matchday squads but could take a seat on the bench alongside Edin Dzeko, should Mancini choose to partner Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez in attack.

Long-term absentees Gonzalo Higuain and Marcelo are Madrid's only fitness worries after Fabio Coentrao and Alvaro Arbeloa made their injury comebacks this week.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stoppage-time winner in the reverse fixture earlier this season and the Portuguese star will be aiming for more goals when he comes against the club apparently courting his services.

Recent form:

Man City: WWDDWL
Madrid: WWDWWL

Possible lineups:

Man City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Kolarov; Barry, Garcia, Toure; Silva, Aguero, Tevez

Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao; Alonso, Khedira; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema

Sports Mole says: 2-2


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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City97202091123
2Liverpool97111751222
3Arsenal95311710718
4Aston Villa95311611518
5Chelsea95221911817
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton94411612416
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest9441117416
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs94141810813
9Brentford94141818013
10Fulham93331212012
11Bournemouth93331111012
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle9333910-112
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham93241316-311
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd9324811-311
15Leicester CityLeicester92341317-49
16Everton92341016-69
17Crystal Palace9135611-56
18Ipswich TownIpswich9045920-114
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves90271225-132
20Southampton9018619-131


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