Real Madrid-Manchester City: line by line, who is stronger?

“We think we are superior in some aspects, and they are superior in others. The superiority will be seen at the end of the 180 minutes. It is not with such wooden language that Carlo Ancelotti risked, at a press conference on Monday, setting a trend. Real Madrid host Manchester City on Tuesday in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, in what is widely considered to be a final before its time. But who is actually stronger on paper? Le Figaro took part in the game of comparisons.

Among the goalkeepers, nothing went as planned at Real Madrid. Thibaut Courtois seriously injured his left knee last August. Kepa Arrizabalaga was urgently recruited at Chelsea. He did not convince, to the point that replacement Andriy Lunin overtook him in the hierarchy. Courtois was expected to return for the major European events but suffered a relapse in March: this time his right knee. Meanwhile, Lunin, 25, wows.

The Ukrainian has the best save rate (80%) among La Liga and Premier League goalkeepers. Much better than Ederson (69.4%), only 13th in this game in the English championship. The 30-year-old Brazilian also makes fewer saves (1.7/match) than his Madrid colleague (2.1/match). If he remains valuable for his kicking game, almost without equal in his position, he does not have the serenity and accuracy of Lunin in recent months.

Our opinion: Lunin was decisive in the round of 16 against Leipzig (0-1, 1-1), author of an “exceptional match” in the first leg according to Ancelotti. He can claim the status of best goalkeeper at the moment against Ederson.

Eduardo Camavinga left back and Aurélien Tchouameni central defender: Carlo Ancelotti can thank France for producing versatile footballers. Real's full infirmary forced the Italian coach to adapt, and successfully. The Merengue have only conceded nine goals in their last 12 La Liga matches. Harder in the Cup or the Champions League, where Leipzig's only goal in 180 minutes in the round of 16 does not reflect the many German chances. The absences of Eder Militão and David Alaba due to injury remain a problem, and Real have a bad habit of suffering, even suffering.

With the Skyblues, it’s mastery above all else. Sometimes to the detriment of the spectacle, as during the Premier League clash against Arsenal on March 31 (0-0), where the mountain gave birth to a mouse. The axis is always well guarded by Ruben Dias and either John Stones, Nathan Aké or Manuel Akanji. The latter helped out on the sides when it wasn't Rico Lewis, Josko Gvardiol or Kyle Walker. In short, Guardiola varies the associations without ever going astray, with a defense designed to manage the depth left by City who always play very high, without losing too much solidity in the duels. “The job of a central defender is the easiest in football because you have to use your head above all,” Ancelotti said at the start of the year. City players know how to do that.

Our opinion: City's defensive sector is more versatile and deeper. On this part of the field, the insurance is on the English side.

Rodri and Bernardo Silva in front of the defense, Kevin De Bruyne in N.10. This is the keystone of Manchester City, made up of three players who appeared in the top 10 of the 2023 Ballon d'Or. In a fluid animation, made of permutations and stalls, the Skyblues weave their web in each match and tire the adversary. In terms of reading the game and creativity, the Mancunian environment is the best in the world.

SEE ALSO – The best of Toni Kroos at Real Madrid

In Madrid, we stopped believing in the decline of Toni Kroos (34 years old) and Luka Modric (38 years old). The latter copes with reduced, or at least optimized, playing time. “He shows everyone how difficult it is for me to leave him on the bench,” greeted Ancelotti after the Croatian's decisive entry against Sevilla FC on February 25 (1-0). Frenchmen Aurélien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga respectively offer defensive assurance and plenty of activity without the ball, while Jude Bellingham is the ultimate box-to-box. Varied assets. You still have to find the right formula.

Our opinion: no one rivals City's midfield in 2024. More complete and simply stronger than Real's in almost every area.

Three goals in his last seven Premier League matches, only one in 178 minutes against Copenhagen in the round of 16 of the Champions League. There is something of a bug with the cyborg Erling Haaland who seems to be slowing down, after a first part of the season worthy of the name (19 goals in his first 20 matches). The Norwegian must prove, he who perhaps missed the Ballon d'Or due to his silence in the semi-finals then in the C1 final last year. Beyond Haaland, City can count on the dazzling Jérémy Doku and Phil Foden in great shape to sow trouble in the Madrid defense.

At Real, we had to reinvent ourselves after the departure of Karim Benzema. “This season we don’t have a center forward, but we managed this absence with more mobility,” explains Ancelotti. Vinicius, 23, is reaching maturity in terms of the game. His friend Rodrygo, also 23, found his smile again with a double against Athletic on March 31 (2-0). There is no doubt that the explosive Brahim Diaz will be used as a “supersub”. Basically, Real depends greatly on Bellingham offensively “to create spaces”, as Ancelotti pointed out.

Our opinion: Real have guts but there is more variety at City. Betting against Haaland over 180 minutes would be daring. Skyblues advantage.