Real Madrid Expected To Be at Full Strength in Champions League Semi Final Against Manchester City

UEFA Champions League knockout ties are tricky affairs because they are played over two legs with away goals rules but it is far tougher in the latter stages since the quality of competition is quite high and teams really need to bring their best game to the contest if they are to have any chance of winning the tie. Real Madrid are gunning for their 11th European Cup/UEFA Champions League trophy this year and meet Manchester City in the first leg of the crunch semi final at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow. However, the big news is that, after having rested several key players in last weekend's puslating 2-3 win against Rayo Vallecano, manager Zinedine Zidane is going to play a full strength side and that is something that would certainly come as a huge boost for Los Blancos fans all over the world.

Real Madrid were without their super stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the league game due to minor niggles, however Zidane has said that both are available for selection and it is almost certain that both will start in the game. Gareth Bale was the star of the show when Real came back from 2-0 down to win the game 3-2 but against a far more superior team in Manchester City they would certainly need the combined firepower of BBC (Benzema-Bale-Cristiano) in order to get the all important away goal or indeed the win at The Etihad.

Real Madrid will play the second leg at home and will known exactly what they have do to in order to qualify for the final, which is why it is imperative that they are able to take the advantage of the away goal. Manchester City on the other hand have been boosted by the return of Kevin De Bruyne who helped them beat Paris Saint Germain in the quarter final and striker Sergio Aguerro's red hot scoring form will also be a matter of concern for the Real Madrid defence. It promises to be a cracker of a game between two evenly matched, fiercely competitive teams.