After a catastrophic fortnight, Manchester City are simply fighting to salvage this season. In the Premier League, following back-to-back draws with Nottingham Forest and then West Ham, the Sky Blues are now nine points adrift leaders Arsenal. Even with a game in hand, and a clash against the Gunners at the Etihad to come, this gap may just prove insurmountable.
Meanwhile, the Citizens’ Champions League campaign is in serious danger of coming to a premature end. Last Wednesday night, Pep Guardiola’s team were demolished 3-0 by Real Madrid in the first leg of their last 16 tie at the Bernabéu. It may well have been worse, considering Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a Vinícius Júnior spot-kick shortly after half time; could that prove to be pivotal?
Nevertheless, Manchester City require a famous remontada when los Blancos visit the Etihad on Tuesday, which is unlikely but not impossible. The Sky Blues smashed los Merengues 4-0 en route to winning the treble, and require a similar dominant display. If they are to pull off a comeback for the ages, here are three players likely to be key.
3 non-negotiable starters for Man City vs Real Madrid
Gianluigi Donnarumma
He has already made a potentially massive contribution to this tie, but Gigi Donnarumma will once again need to be at his brilliant best if Man City are to produce a comeback. The Italian is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, Thibaut Courtois up the other end of the pitch might have something to say about that, but it is indisputable that PSG would not have won last year’s competition without him.
|
Statistics |
Gianluigi Donnarumma |
UCL rank |
|---|---|---|
|
Saves |
35 |
14th |
|
Saves from shots inside box |
28 |
4th |
|
Save % |
72% |
16th |
|
Clean sheets |
6 |
2nd |
|
Punches |
13 |
1st |
|
High claims |
13 |
4th |
A key feature of Paris Saint-Germain’s run last year was Donnarumma making crucial and spectacular saves at the right time, He made five across two legs against Arsenal, preventing an xG figure of 2.09, as well as producing six saves to oust Aston Villa and two during the victorious shootout at Anfield.
Since making the move to Manchester, the Italian has not been quite as imperious, but is still an outstanding shot-stopper. In need of a three-goal victory over Real Madrid, one feels as though the Sky Blues must keep a clean sheet, meaning Donnarumma will be called up to come up trumps.
Jérémy Doku
Turning our attention to the other end of the pitch because, at the end of the day, it is goals Manchester City need, where has the old Jérémy Doku gone? Earlier in the campaign, the Belgian was one of the most feared forwards in the Premier League, having seemingly found his best form.
However, Doku has just three goals to his name this season, the most-recent of which came against Liverpool on 9 November. Meantime, the 23 year old has registered 12 assists, albeit only one has come since January. He has been nursing a calf injury of late and it has been clear, with Man City simply lacking attacking dynamism when he is not there or not at his best. In a tie where they now require a barrage of goals, Doku’s individualistic brilliance could be a way they find then.
Erling Haaland
If any team can score 3+ goals against Real Madrid, you’re going to back the side with Erling Haaland leading the line. The Norwegian’s Champions League goalscoring record is frightening, having bagged 56 in 57 in the competition, of which three have come against Real Madrid. The record as the competition’s all-time top-scorer has to be in his sights.
|
Players |
Goals |
Appearances |
Minutes per goal |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cristiano Ronaldo |
140 |
183 |
114 |
|
Lionel Messi |
129 |
163 |
105 |
|
Robert Lewandowski |
107 |
141 |
109 |
|
Karim Benzema |
90 |
152 |
124 |
|
Raúl |
71 |
142 |
169 |
|
Kylian Mbappé |
68 |
95 |
113 |
|
Thomas Müller |
57 |
163 |
135 |
|
Erling Haaland |
56 |
57 |
81 |
|
Ruud van Nistelrooy |
56 |
73 |
109 |
Haaland boasts, by some distance, the best Champions League minutes per goal ratio, on target every 81 minutes in Europe’s premier club competition, needing two more goals to surpass Thomas Müller’s tally. However, and this isn’t something one can say very often, is the Norwegian struggling for confidence and form right now?
In 2026, the centre-forward has just four goals in 17 appearances to his name, a shocking record considering the sky-high standards he has set. He has though bagged seven in this season’s Champions League, including netting at the Bernabéu in December, and it is impossible to imagine Man City overturning the current three goal deficit without Haaland playing a leading role.