Man City fans left absolutely ecstatic as £50m player could now be fit to start vs Real Madrid

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As Manchester City prepare to go toe-to-toe against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night, Pep Guardiola would be hoping that most of his key players are fully fit and ready to start.

With Manchester City playing at the Etihad Stadium as well, the onus will be on the hosts to take the game to Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the first leg of the playoffs.

Real Madrid are the kings of the Champions League and despite the game being played away from home, they are the overwhelming favourites to beat a struggling City side.

But the good news for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City is that Nico Gonzalez could be fit to start against Los Blancos after being taken off a few minutes into his debut against Leyton Orient with an injury.

In Rodri’s absence, the Sky Blues have been a missing a midfielder who is both technically and physically gifted but in £50 million man Gonzalez, they have a player who possesses a similar profile — who could help the hosts ably lock horns with the Spanish giants.

Manchester City fans could not hide their joy at discovering that Gonzalez is indeed available to play against Real Madrid.

Man City fans buzzing about Nico Gonzalez being fit ahead of Real Madrid clash

One Manchester City fan reacted to Gonzalez being fit to partake against Real Madrid by simply writing on X: “Huge boost.”

Another City fan claimed that the return of Gonzalez, who Andres Iniesta has lauded will lead to his side thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 like they did in 2023, saying: “We are definitely destroying Madrid 4-0 again. Run it back. Even if we don’t advance to the next stage this one would be hell of a movie.

A third Manchester City supporter was similarly confident and predicted Pep Guardiola’s men to defeat Real Madrid solely due to the former Porto midfielder being fit: “Pray for Madrid, [Omar] Marmoush mask celebration [to be expected when he scores], we will be there.”

A fourth Sky Blues fan simply shared an image of Sergio Aguero celebrating when Manchester City won against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final six years ago to express his happiness as Gonzalez being available for selection.

A fifth Manchester City fan praised Pep Guardiola for taking Gonzalez off against Leyton Orient at the right time, which has played a part in him being fit to play against Real Madrid: “Love how Pep didn’t risk his fitness last match. He is that last piece of the puzzle we were lacking.”

Finally, a sixth City fan thinks his side have a chance of beating Real Madrid solely due to Gonzalez’s ability, saying: “We are so back, it’s not over lads.”

Where Nico Gonzalez could play in Man City’s XI vs Real Madrid

If Pep Guardiola does start Gonzalez, he could simply play him in a double pivot that also features either Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan or Mateo Kovacic.

With all of Manchester City’s defenders being fit simultaneously after a long time, the Spaniard could play in front of a back four consisting of Manuel Akanji and Josko Gvardiol as full-backs with John Stones and Ruben Dias named as the centre-back partnershuip.

Erling Haaland is expected to start and it will be interesting to see which combination of attackers Pep Guardiola starts behind him; with Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Omar Marmoush, Savinho and Jeremy Doku all well-capable of having huge impacts on proceedings.