One thing is catching up with Man City stars - but they can come alive in Real Madrid second leg

The pace of the game is catching up with a number of Manchester City stars.

That is the blunt verdict of former City forward Robbie Fowler but he believes they can still "come alive" to beat Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie.

City will head to the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening looking to overturn a 3-2 deficit after losing the first leg at the Etihad Stadium.

Despite leading twice through goals from Erling Haaland, goals from Kylian Mbappe, Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham ensured Los Blancos left Manchester with a vital win and a one-goal advantage heading into the second leg.

It means the odds are now stacked against Pep Guardiola's side to progress against the reigning European champions, and despite City showing signs of regression this term, Fowler believes they have the capability to go to the Spanish capital and emerge victorious.

“Real Madrid always come alive in the Champions League, but I think Manchester City could do the same in the second leg," Fowler told BoyleSports.

“They are having an incredibly difficult time but I think they could find something in them in the second leg, for me it’s far from a foregone conclusion. It will be difficult and they have looked out of sorts, but I wouldn't rule them out.

“The concerns I would have are in the middle of the park, I think there are a few players coming to the end of their time at the club, it looks like the pace of the game might be catching up with them.

“In the Premier League as well, you need pace and power in the middle of the park if you want to control games. City have done that for the last six or seven years but aren’t anymore.

“That doesn’t mean that Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan are bad players,