Image: APA/AFP/ANDER GILLENEA
David Alaba is facing what is probably the most difficult task in the football Champions League: The Real Madrid defense chief has to brake Erling Haaland in the semi-final home game against Manchester City (9 p.m., Sky). “Haaland is the one who scares you the most,” said Reals Rodrygo. “We will try to stop him.” The 22-year-old Brazilian doesn’t know how that can succeed. “I don’t think anyone knows that yet.”
When Haaland switched from Dortmund to Manchester City last summer, there were still doubts about the Norwegian’s added value: the leap into the Premier League was too big, it didn’t fit in with coach Pep Guardiola’s style of play. The 22-year-old disproved it after a short period of adjustment – with 51 competitive goals so far.
Haaland is the big trump card for the unfinished story of Manchester City’s hunt for the Champions League title to have a happy ending. In last year’s semifinals, Real Madrid made their way to the final. Manchester City had won the first leg 4-3 and were up 1-0 in Madrid up to the 90th minute. Then Rodrygo saved Real with two goals in extra time, Karim Benzema scored the decisive 3:1. “That would not have happened with Haaland,” Manchester United’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney recently wrote in his “Times” column, predicting a one-sided rerun: “City will not only beat Real in the semifinals, they will sweep them away.”
The shape speaks for the city
The form of the two teams gives the announcement: Manchester City has won 15 of the last 16 competitive games and stormed to the top of the Premier League. Only Bayern Munich defied the winning machine in the second leg of the quarter-finals with a 1-1 draw. Manchester City didn’t have to flex their muscles after the 3-0 win at home. Real Madrid, on the other hand, was left behind by FC Barcelona in the Spanish league, second place is far from certain in the duel with Atletico Madrid.
The Champions League myth speaks for Real above all. City manager Pep Guardiola: “All the clubs in the world feel that if you want to win the Champions League you have to beat Real Madrid.”
Source: Nachrichten
