It’s Manchester City vs. Real Madrid as the UEFA Champions League roars back to action Thursday. Europe’s premier soccer circuit restarts play amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Round of 16 second-leg matchup features a Manchester City team that leads 2-1 from the first match, played months ago before play was suspended. Pep Guardiola squad will also head into play having lost the English Premier League title to Liverpool and being knocked out of the FA Cup by Arsenal.
They’ll look to right the ship in the Champions League by advancing to the quarterfinals. On the other side is a Real Madrid team that outpaced rivals FC Barcelona to another title in La Liga. Behind captain Sergio Ramos and a dominant defense, Madrid finished a dominant campaign in the Spanish League and now turns its attention to international play. However, Ramos won’t be on the pitch Friday following a red card taken in the first leg of the match. Also of note, English star Gareth Bale will not travel with the squad.