XI Manchester City-Real Madrid predictions: Will 'The Anti-Vinicius' start the Champions League?

Manchester City host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, and it's all level coming to the Etihad, following a 3-3 draw last week. The city has recovered several important players for this tie, which could be the biggest difference between this stage and the last one.

Star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne pulled out of the first leg last minute with illness, while Kyle Walker, dubbed “the Anti-Vinicius” by the Spanish media last season, is also fit to play this season again Pep Guardiola confirmed that he has been doing “well” in recent training sessions, but was not sure whether he will start or put him on the bench.

Brand feel that Manuel Akanji will continue from the game at right-back, with de Bruyne returning in place of Mateo Kovacic in midfield from the first leg. Goalkeeper Ederson is also back from injury, and will play in front of Stefan Ortega.

Meanwhile AS Diary feel that Walker will start the game, but otherwise agree on the City line-up. There is no variation between the two in terms of line-up for Real MadridAlthough we see Jude Bellingham starting more on the left for the Whites.

There was some suggestion after Aurelien Tchouameni was suspended that Eder Militao could return for Real Madrid in the second leg. Yet in just his second appearance since recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out for seven months, Militao played just a few minutes against Real Mallorca at the weekend, which many felt confirmed that Nacho Fernandez starts the game on Wednesday night.

Tchouameni joins the injured Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba as the only absences for either side.