Our Manchester City vs Real Madrid predictions so far

 

Sam Lee: “Despite the ghosts of last season and Real Madrid showing in the first leg that they were a match for City and not just relying on their Champions League voodoo, I do feel that City will have an extra gear at home.”

Mario Cortegana: “I think Manchester City are slight favourites because of their strength in depth and the fact they are playing at home, but I've been watching Real Madrid games all my life and it's very difficult for me to ever name their opponents as favourites — especially in the Champions League.” (?)

Jack Pitt-Brooke: “I think City are likelier to win than Real Madrid. They're stronger on paper, they're in great form, they're at home and so on. But Real Madrid have been confounding us for years in this competition, teaching the world that even if they look out of the game they still know they are in it. So even if City go ahead on Wednesday night, the Real players will stay calm, continue to play their own game, and wait for the right moment. City will never, ever be safe.”

Carl Anka: “Manchester City are likely the best team in Europe but Real Madrid know how to switch it on when it matters most in the Champions League. Put on a pot of coffee. This is going to extra time… before City get the winner.”

Thom Harris: “It’s fascinatingly poised. City are unbeaten in 25 at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League, but no one does this competition quite like Real Madrid. The home advantage surely tips things in favour of Pep Guardiola’s side this time, however. I will predict a 3-1 win, but much, much stranger things have happened.”

[City will not win 3-1.] 

Dermot Corrigan: “Reason says that City are a much better team and Madrid cannot keep pulling off spectacular victories against the odds in this competition. But there is still a nagging feeling that City might appear in control of everything, only for Madrid to find a way to take the game to extra-time, where they will keep their heads better and progress. Maybe after penalties.”

Collectively, I make that four to Manchester City, two to Real Madrid. He made Cortegana's squishy analysis a prediction of Madrid.