Manchester City face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday evening in a replay of last year’s quarter-final.
City were eliminated in the Champions League by Real Madrid last year after a dramatic penalty shootout at the Etihad.
Madrid would go on to win the Champions League last season, while City had to settle for just another Premier League title.
However, it’s fair to say that plenty has changed since then.
Indeed, City are now struggling domestically, sitting fifth in the Premier League, while both sides have struggled in Europe, hence why they’re playing the extra playoff game in the new Champions League format.
- UEFA Champions League
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Man CityManchester City
Real MadridReal Madrid
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Speaking on The Rest is Football, Micah Richards has been previewing this clash, and he says that Real Madrid are favourites for this game.
However, Richards doesn’t think this will be a one-sided affair, but he does have a worry about one player in particular, Matheus Nunes.
- Who is Matheus Nunes? Get to know the midfielder
Micah Richards worried about Matheus Nunes vs Real Madrid
Richards shared his verdict on the upcoming Champions League clash.
The pundit has Madrid down as favourites for this game, but, only slightly.
However, he does have a concern about Matheus Nunes here, claiming that the £53m man may struggle if he has to face off against Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr or Rodrygo Goes.
Vinicius Jr will be motivated coming into this game. After all, Vinicius Jr has a rivalry with Man City star, Rodri, after their Ballon d’Or battle last year.
“But at the moment, you’d have to have Real Madrid as favourites, wouldn’t you?” Richards was asked.
Yeah, they’re my favourites. I’m not too worried about the game itself because if you watch Real Madrid, they’re having problems themselves in terms of transition in the middle of the pitch. The one area I would worry if he was saving Matheus Nunes against an Mbappe or Vinicius or Rodrygo down that left-hand side, that would worry me.
But you’d like to think they’re experienced players now, the Man City players. They’ll get themselves up for a big game. I think Madrid are still favourites, but I don’t think it’s going to be a mauling like everyone thinks.”
Matheus Nunes record at right-back
Richards says he’s concerned about Nunes playing at right-back, and he has every right to be.
Indeed, while Nunes has made the best of a bad situation when playing as a makeshift right-back in recent times, he’s not excelled in that role, as the stats show.
| Manchester City record with Matheus Nunes at right-back | |
|---|---|
| Games | 6 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Goals conceded | 11 |
| Clean sheets | 1 |
City just aren’t the same team when Nunes plays at right-back, and maybe, for the first time since his departure, City will miss Kyle Walker here.
Indeed, Walker, at his best, is one of few players in the world who can deal with Kylian Mbappe.
Walker can deal with Mbappe, as he’s shown with England in the past, something that Kalvin Phillips has attested to.
“If there’s anyone that I’d like to put up against [Kylian] Mbappe to stop him, it’s Kyle Walker. I believe he’s an unbelievable defender and probably the only one that’s quicker than him as well,” Phillips once said.
This will certainly be a tight battle between two top teams, but, as Richards says, Nunes may well be the weak link in this City side that is easy to exploit.
