Out of fear or respect, Man City and Real Madrid both held back. Will that help either side next week?

The first leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie saw Manchester City host Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium. Both teams took a rather conservative approach during the clash that ended 2-1 in favor of City. Zinedine Zidane’s squad failed to capitalize on their early chances, and Pep Guardiola’s men turned the game around in their favor.

Real Madrid entered the clash with a few injury concerns while City possibly had to deal with the Wembley stadium boos after their recent UEFA ban. However, both teams seemed cautious while trying to avoid conceding a goal that could have turned the tide of the game in either favor.

City scored through Gabriel Jesus who utilized a quick counter-attack in the 78th minute. Kevin De Bruyne added another to the tally from a penalty. Isco scored a crucial goal for Real Madrid in the 60th minute, which would help them in their attempt to turn it around in the second leg.

Despite Guardiola’s side’s victory and Real Madrid’s goal-scoring opportunity, neither team went all-out in the first leg. The return leg at Santiago Bernabeu might prompt both teams to unleash their potential, and it could turn out to be a fiery encounter.

Wondering how both teams have fared in their domestic leagues lately? Manchester City has won their last two Premier League games against West Ham and Leicester City. Real Madrid, on the other hand, has gone unbeaten in their last three La Liga games, with wins against Osasuna, Celta Vigo, and Levante.

Looking at both teams’ records, Manchester City is in a strong position. They have won their last seven games in all competitions, while Real Madrid has only won three of their last seven. However, anything can happen in the second leg of the Champions League, and both teams will be looking to put up a good show.

In conclusion, Manchester City and Real Madrid both held back in their first leg of the Champions League tie, and it remains to be seen who will cut loose in the second leg. Both teams have had contrasting form in their respective leagues, with City seeming the stronger of the two. However, the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu is going to be a decisive battle for both teams as they aim to progress to the quarterfinals.