When Manchester City's line-up becomes public a good hour before the start of the semi-final first leg this Tuesday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and on Prime Video), many will take a very close look.

Tobias Rabe

Responsible editor for Sport Online.

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The English club's supporters will hope that manager Pep Guardiola hasn't come up with a special idea again in a special game.

He has that again and again - to the delight of the opponent, to the suffering of his own team.

Because the coach's wealth of ideas often went hand in hand with unexpected defeats shortly before the big goal.

Of course, Guardiola is not stupid, even if he says: "I love inventing stupid tactics." The Catalan obviously knows what people say about him, so he only says anything on the subject with a pinch of sarcasm and a mocking smile : "I always think too much in the Champions League." He will do the same before the clash with Real Madrid.

What will come of it?

Not clear.

Because the curious thing is: Even if Guardiola resisted his urge to throw his well-rehearsed successful self this time, he would still have to do it.

Because important players will be missing.

Left-back João Cancelo is suspended for the first leg.

His right-hand counterpart Kyle Walker has not trained for ten days, while central defender John Stones was also injured.

alternatives?

Nathan Ake, Alexander Zinchenko, Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Días – and striker Gabriel Jesus?

The Brazilian, who scored four goals against Watford on Saturday, on defence?

"If Gabriel has to play right-back, he plays right-back, no problem," said Guardiola initially.

He later clarified: "He won't play at right-back." Sure?

"Maybe a few minutes, but: no." You can guess how much Guardiola is annoyed by the topic.

Pep Guardiola's crude ideas

It will soon be decided whether Guardiola will stop laughing or whether he will be a laughing winner.

Manchester City is still chasing the Champions League pot.

Guardiola calls for help: "It's the semi-finals of the Champions League.

I ask our fans: take a train, a bus or a car.

We need you.” Manchester are in the semi-finals of the premier class for the third time.

"It's going to be a special night for us.

We have to enjoy it and give everything we have," said Guardiola.

But what will he give his team?

"It would be boring if I always played the same," says Guardiola.

There he was again, the fearmonger in his own ranks.

In the 2021 final against Chelsea, Guardiola surprisingly did without a defensive midfielder and opened up the crucial space for the opponent.

In addition, João Cancelo did not play, although he was in good form.

Representative Zinchenko failed in the only goal conceded.

The year before, Manchester lost to underdogs Olympique Lyon when Guardiola suddenly started with a three-man defense.

Further examples?

In 2019, Kevin De Bruyne was absent voluntarily against Tottenham.

City was eliminated.

So there are definitely reasons not only to tremble in front of the opponent, but also in front of oneself.

The memory of Real Madrid is not bad at all.

In the 2020 round of 16, Manchester City achieved two 2-1 wins – without experimenting.

Nevertheless, the respect for Real is enormous, and not just because of their own problems.

After all, the Spaniards are permanent guests in the competition for the football crown in Europe, while City has much less experience.

"If it's just about history, we don't stand a chance, then they're better," says Guardiola.

"Playing against Real Madrid is an incredible test."

Real already knocked out Paris St. Germain and Chelsea FC, even if things didn't look good in between.

This comeback quality is feared in Manchester.

Ilkay Gündogan calls the record winner a "brutal squad" - and without exception means that with respect.

One in particular embodies the unshakable quality: Karim Benzema.

"This guy is amazing in every game," says Manchester midfielder Rodri.

"We have to be on our guard!" Twelve goals in nine games this season in the Champions League is impressive testament to his class.

It doesn't matter that he missed two penalties against Osasuna recently in the league.

The winner of the big duel in the semi-finals is waiting in the final on May 28 in Paris Liverpool or Villarreal, who also only play in England on Wednesday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and on DAZN).

A perceived advantage could be that Real can focus fully on the premier league as they have a large lead in the domestic league, while City and Liverpool are neck and neck in the Premier League.

It's difficult to take your focus away from the championship, even if Guardiola has won it three times since 2016.

Much more important would be the long-awaited Champions League triumph, which City is still chasing, like Guardiola.

His triumphs with FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi in 2009 and 2011 are only pale memories.

"Of course we want more," Guardiola said before the home game at the press conference on Monday: "It's nice to be here with the best teams in the world." Manchester had to "play two exceptional games to reach the final." Exceptional, yes.

But maybe this time with ordinary formation and tactics.