Street-wise Real Madrid leave Man City with tinge of regret

When Real Madrid were knocked out by Manchester City in the last-16 of the Champions League two years ago, it appeared to be the end of a cycle for that particular squad.

They were an ageing core whose past glories seemed to be receding into the distance. An overhaul was needed.

It's interesting then to look at the starting line-up from last night's first leg classic between the same sides. Real may have lost again but bringing a 4-3 deficit back to the Bernabeu for next week's second leg offers Carlo Ancelotti's side more than a glimmer of hope while City's superiority is tinged with some regret that the tie remains tight.

Of the starting XI that started in the first leg two years ago, only the centre-back pairing of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane (now winding down a career at PSG and part of a troubled Manchester United respectively), as well as Casemiro (not fit enough to start) and Isco did not reprise their starting roles at the Etihad Stadium. The 2020 second leg, almost six months later due to Covid-19, was even closer to last night's XI, with Toni Kroos, Eder Militao and young Brazilian forward Rodrygo all in situ.

Significantly, Karim Benzema, who appears to be peaking rather than showing signs of age at 34, and Luka Modric remain the standard-bearers.

But they, like the rest of their team-mates, were all sprawled on the canvas after 12 minutes in Manchester after being KO-ed by City's one-two punch, delivered by Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus.

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