Bookmakers doubt Manchester City comeback against Real Madrid

Today, March 17, the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 between Manchester City and Real Madrid will take place. The first match ended in a convincing 3–0 victory for the Madrid club, leaving the English side with a nearly impossible task — to overturn a three-goal deficit against the most decorated club in the competition’s history.

Despite the heavy defeat in the first leg, analysts still rate Manchester City’s chances of winning the return match quite highly. However, bookmakers largely do not believe in a comeback and consider Real Madrid an almost certain quarterfinalist.

Qualification odds:

• Manchester City — 4.30

• Real Madrid — 1.22

Match odds:

• Manchester City win — 1.47

• Draw — 5.60

• Real Madrid win — 5.80

Pep Guardiola’s team must not only win but secure a dominant victory, which is extremely difficult against an opponent traditionally strong in Champions League playoffs.

Additional complications come from squad issues, as both teams have injury concerns.

Real Madrid absences:

• Out: Alaba (calf), Bellingham (hamstring), Ceballos (calf), Mendy (hamstring), Rodrygo (knee)

• Doubtful: Carreras (calf), Éder Militão (tendon), Mbappé (knee), Raúl Asensio (muscle injury)

Manchester City absences:

• Out: Gvardiol (leg)

• Doubtful: Alleyne (bruise), Lewis (ankle), Savinho (hamstring), Stones (ankle)

Champions League: Round of 16 second legs — predictions, odds, and lineups