City Centre-backs Vital Ahead of Moutainous Madrid Mission

It's fair to say that last week’s 0-0 draw between Manchester City and Real Madrid failed to live up to expectations. Neutrals watched and waited for goals, but ultimately; neither attack had the desired effect. Instead, both sets of defences remained steadfast and rightly earned the plaudits following the stalemate. Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi were able to keep Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale at bay, while Sergio Ramos and Pepe worked tirelessly to stifle Sergio Aguero. 

The result was far from ideal for City, who are perhaps up against it at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night. Of course, if they can net a vital away goal, the tie quickly turns in their favour, but given Real Madrid’s superiority on home turf, City’s backline will be routinely called into action. The onus, therefore, is once again placed on Kompany and Otamendi to shut up shop if the Citizens are to progress to the Champions League final. 

The centre-back pair were among City’s highest rated players (Otamendi 7.69, Kompany 7.50) with the duo performing sufficiently to restrict Los Blancos to just three shots on target. In fact, it was an evening that Otamendi quickly grew into after a shaky start. The Argentine - as has become custom - went to ground to foul Benzema early on and while that could have set the tone for the defender, Otamendi did more than enough to ensure Real Madrid came away from the Etihad without an away goal. 

Kompany’s return coincided with what was a much more solid display from the City defence, and that much was evident in the 4-2 defeat at the hands of Southampton on Sunday, a match the Belgian missed. Manuel Pellegrini - as expected - made wholesale changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Real Madrid last week for the trip to St. Mary’s, with Otamendi, Hart and Fernandinho the only players to start both matches. The second string XI - Kelechi Iheanacho aside - struggled to cope with Southampton, with a lack of defensive leadership costing City dear. 

Indeed, Kompany’s return - coupled with the likely recalls of Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna - will improve the City defence in Spain. The stats all weigh in Kompany’s favour. Of the 38 Premier League goals City have conceded this season, just seven have come with the Belgian starting. Alongside Otamendi, meanwhile, Pellegrini’s side have conceded just nine goals from 12 competitive fixtures that Kompany and the summer signing have started together. 

The error-prone Eliaquim Mangala lacks the necessary concentration required to keep opposition attacks at bay, while the less said about Martin Demichelis this season, the better. While Otamendi may look lost without Kompany alongside him, the latter’s defensive knowhow helps the former. This was clearly evident against Real Madrid where, after Otamendi’s unconvincing start, he looked every bit the centre-back signed following a successful solo season with Valencia. 

The 28-year-old made a match-high five tackles and six interceptions against the La Liga title contenders last week, while a City-best 93.1% pass success rate highlighted how effective he was at playing the ball out from the back, despite coming under ample pressure from the Real Madrid offensive. The same rings true for Kompany, who garnered a 92.1% pass success rate and made five interceptions and six clearances. A similar showing at the Bernabeu will indeed help City upset the odds and secure a Champions League final meeting with Atletico Madrid later this month. 

Of course, their task is made all the harder by the return to fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo. While Benzema’s absence may come as a blow to Real Madrid, Ronaldo’s recovery will buoy Zinedine Zidane’s side as they aim to set up a second El Derbi madrileño final in the last three years in Europe’s elite competition. The Portugal international missed the first leg stalemate with a hamstring problem, but could be fit to start at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night. 

Ronaldo has scored more goals (16) than any other player in the Champions League this season as he looks to secure Real Madrid safe passage to the final and break his own European goalscoring record of 17 goals, set the year Los Blancos landed La Decima in 2014. Given Benzema’s underwhelming showing in the first leg, Ronaldo’s potential return comes as a boost for a Real Madrid side that is averaging 3.9 goals per home game under Zidane. 

It makes for a mountainous mission in Madrid for City, who need to remain as resolute as they did last week in order to progress to the final at Real Madrid’s expense. With Kompany back and Otamendi a far more assured defender with his captain alongside him, however, tonight’s Champions League meeting in Spain, while daunting, is one City can navigate.

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