Man City handed Champions League boost with Real Madrid facing selection crisis

After a campaign that has been disastrous by their own high standards, Pep Guardiola's side go into their Champions League play-off round tie with Los Blancos as firm underdogs.

While their struggling side will have to put in a performance of a lifetime to progress to the last-16, things aren't completely rosy at the Bernabeu right now either.

Despite sitting top of LaLiga, Real Madrid are enduring a torrid season on the injury front with Carlo Ancelotti contending with the mother of all crises in defence.

That is because five of Madrid's seven senior defenders are currently ruled out with injury.

Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are both long-term absentees having suffered anterior crucial ligament injuries which rules them out for the forseeable.

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David Alaba had been closing in on a first team return following more than a year out with an ACL injury, however after returning to the bench he's missed out on the matchday squad in Real Madrid's last two games.

Antonio Rudiger will also miss the clash due to a hamstring injury, as will Lucas Vazquez who picked up a similar injury during the 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid at the weekend.

It means that Ancelotti is likely to name a patched-up back four.

While first-choice left back Fran Garcia is expected to start the game, Real Madrid are likely to name midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni and 21-year-old academy graduate Raul Asencio in central defence.

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With Carvajal and Vazquez both ruled out, it means that Fede Valverde could be forced to play at right-back, instead of his natural role in midfield.

For Man City, it represents a real opportunity to take control of the two-legged tie with Erling Haaland and Phil Foden likely to be rubbing their hands together.

While there's an outside chance of Rudiger and Vazquez returning for the second leg at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, February 19, Ancelotti could have a whole new set of worries for the clash in Madrid.

That's because seven first team stars are a booking away from a suspension in the Champions League.

Those players are Tchouameni, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Eduardo Camavinga, Luka Modric, Endrick and most crucially, Jude Bellingham.

But while Real Madrid may be short of numbers defensively at the Etihad Stadium their front four are among the best on the planet.

Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe will be tasked with putting the game beyond City and according to Tony Cascarino, Guardiola knows that they're in for a game.

He told talkSPORT: "They've got to be way better. Obviously there'll be a few players who played against Leyton Orient who will be involved, but they've got to be at their best.

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"They've got to be the City of last season if they've got any chance of beating Real Madrid over two legs.

"It's a big ask, but can they do it? Of course they can. They've got a huge amount of talent but they've got to play their best football.

"Kovacic will be back, Haaland will be up front, Foden will start and De Bruyne will start but lots of things will have to go right for City because they will not get a result against Real Madrid if they're even close to what they've been in recent months and Pep knows that."

Success in the Champions League is of major importance to Man City after a disappointing season.

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As well as being eliminated from the League Cup, City currently sit in fifth position in the Premier League and therefore face a battle to qualify for next year's competition - let alone challenge for the title.

While they remain in the FA Cup following their victory over Leyton Orient, a victory over two legs against Real Madrid could the the catalyst needed to end a disappointing campaign on a high.

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