Kevin De Bruyne starts on the bench on Tuesday evening in the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. Pep Guardiola opts for a strengthened midfield with Mateo Kovacic at Manchester City. Carlo Ancelotti has no surprises in store for Real Madrid. The match starts at 9:00 PM at the Santiago Bernabéu and can be seen live on RTL 7 and Ziggo Sport Select.

De Bruyne has been back from a lingering muscle injury since the beginning of January. The Belgian midfielder shone against Crystal Palace on Saturday (2-4 win) with two goals and an assist. Guardiola said afterwards that City probably would not have won without De Bruyne.

Guardiola does not seem to want to take any risks with the vulnerable De Bruyne, who has only played one match a week lately. The 32-year-old number 10 has been running the midweek competition since the beginning of March.

Nathan Ake is missing at Manchester City. The Dutch defender suffered a muscle injury against Arsenal (0-0) on March 31 and has been sidelined ever since.

Guardiola regularly chooses Julián Álvarez shortly behind Erling Braut Haaland, but the Argentinian has to make do with a place on the bench in Madrid. Jérémy Doku is also not in the starting line-up.

Real Madrid comes in the expected 4-4-2 formation. The attacking fireworks should come from the Brazilians Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, with Jude Bellingham close behind.

Real Madrid line-up: Lunin; Carvajal, Tchouaméni, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga, Bellingham; Vinicius, Rodrygo.

Manchester City line-up: Ortega; Akanji, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Foden, Bernardo Silva, Grealish; Haaland.

More sports news