UPDATE (2:15 p.m. ET): Cristiano Ronaldo will sit out the game because of a thigh injury. Read all about what his absence means for Real Madrid’s and Manchester City’s chances.
ORIGINAL STORY: Manchester City is on the march in the UEFA Champions League, but it hasn’t faced as powerful a foe as Real Madrid this season.
The teams will meet Tuesday at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal series. Real Madrid has won European soccer’s elite competition a record 10 times, so the Spanish club is no stranger to this fateful stage. Manchester City is playing in its first Champions League semifinals and looks to prove it truly belongs at this level.
As usual, Cristiano Ronaldo will be the center of attention. The Portuguese superstar rescued Real Madrid earlier this month by scoring a hat trick against Wolfsburg in the second leg of the quarterfinals. Ronaldo leads the Champions League in goals this year and is nothing short of an essential component in Real Madrid’s team.
Manchester City is in good form, having won four and drawn two of its last six games in all competitions. Manuel Pellegrini has instructed his team not to focus too heavily on Ronaldo’s presence, as Real Madrid has many other weapons.
The first 90 minutes of this semifinal will determine whether Pellegrini’s strategy is viable.
Here’s how to watch Manchester City vs. Real Madrid online:
When: Tuesday, April 26, at 2:45 p.m. ET
Live Stream: FoxSoccer2Go
Thumbnail photo via Noah K. Murray/USA TODAY Sports Images
