David Alaba wants to stop Manchester City

A particularly difficult task awaits David Alaba in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals. With the defending champion Real Madrid, the ÖFB star has to defuse Manchester City and “Tormaschine” Erling Haaland again today (9 p.m. / live Servus TV and Sky) at the Etihad Stadium. The first leg a week ago in Madrid ended 1-1.

In any case, Alaba’s dream of a fourth CL triumph is alive. However, the designated English champion is a slight favourite. Because Pep Guardiola’s “Citizens” welcome Carlo Ancelotti’s team with the treble dream in mind and are in excellent form. The Guardiola team has not lost 22 competitive games recently and celebrated 18 victories. In the Premier League, defending the title is actually just a matter of form, the “Skyblues” still need a win from three games. In the FA Cup final, the derby against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium is waiting on June 3rd. Exactly one week later, the first Champions League title is to follow in Istanbul.

Alaba, among others, has something against it, who in turn wants to put on the European crown with Real Madrid for the second time in a row. In the first leg against ManCity, 30-year-old Wiener Haaland and central-back partner Antonio Rüdiger defused the game, resulting in only 21 ball contacts by the 22-year-old Norwegian. “We have everything in our hands,” wrote Haaland on Twitter before the next duel between the giants. In any case, the English have been warned that a trauma similar to that in the semi-finals in 2022 should not happen again. Last year, after a 4-3 win in the first leg, the Guardiola team had also led 1-0 in the second leg in Madrid up to the 90th minute before Rodrygo made a comeback worth seeing with a brace and Karim Benzema in extra time.