Football’s billionaire barons gather in Australia’s sporting capital for the crème de la crème of this winter’s friendlies – it’s Manchester City versus Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:45pm.
With all due respect to AS Roma and the passionate Giallorossi support, there’s only been one game that has been the talk of Melbourne town since word spread about the International Champions Cup.
No player in Melbourne this week can command a greater profile within his club than Francesco Totti, but his presence cannot solely better the plethora of stars waiting to walk onto the hallowed MCG on Friday night. You can give the organisers credit – they have saved the best until last.
Friendly in name this may be, but in many ways, this fixture can be used as an accurate precursor for the fortunes of Manchester City this season. Since the takeover of the City Football Group in 2008, Manchester City have twice managed to conquer the best of England in winning the domestic league title – an honour in 2012 they previously waited for 44 years for.
Yet despite the hundreds of millions shelled out for new players, managers and facilities, European success eludes the blue half of Manchester. This season will mark the club’s fifth consecutive appearance in the Champions League, from which they have yet to go past the Round of 16. Clubs like Real Madrid are the ones Manchester City must beat to either progress from the first elimination round, and clubs like Real Madrid they’ll find in the later rounds. Dismiss it as a friendly if you must, but there is incentive there for the club in Eastlands, as well as their manager, who faces the club he previously was in charge of.
Changes are likely for City’s second game in three days, but one player expected to start is Raheem Sterling, who took only three minutes to make his mark for his new club since arriving from Liverpool.
Against the might of Real Madrid, Pellegrini may opt to once again start David Silva as a lone striker, or return to one of Edin Dzeko or Steven Jovetic. Neither forward has had any game time since arriving in Australia, with both rumoured to be heading for the Eastlands exit, but a start against Europe’s premier club could spell a reprieve for either player.
Further behind, and Pellegrini may switch keepers with Joe Hart likely to replace Willy Caballero, while retaining the first choice pairing of Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala in defence. Changes are likely to occur in midfield, as new signings Fabian Delph and Patrick Roberts could see their first game time for their new club.
It’s a new era as well for Real Madrid, but in an old way. The familiar face of Rafa Benitez is back home, and after years of finding his feet at Valencia, Liverpool, Inter, Chelsea and Napoli, Real Madrid’s former B-team coach has gained the keys to the Bernabeu. While Manchester City have only recently joined football’s billion dollar gravy train, Real Madrid was the instigator. Up until this season at least.
It’s a strange notion pairing fiscal prudence and Real Madrid together, but that is exactly the scenario when your only one player in Danilo has been purchased for above 10 million pounds.
The rest all fall south of that total, with Real Madrid even farewelling club icon Iker Casillas and maestro midfielder Sami Khedira for free, and seemingly struggling to keep hold of new captain Sergio Ramos, who continues to be chased by Manchester United. Despite this, Real Madrid can never lack pulling power – names like Ronaldo, Rodriguez and Bale assure us of this.
Real Madrid will have had the benefit of a longer preparation for this game following their weekend penalty loss against Roma, and as such may opt to honour the likely sell-out crowd with their strongest side. That includes Ronaldo, Rodriguez, Bale, Ramos and Benzema.
The names are there, all we need now is the exhibition. While Real are likely to play in the traditional Benitez mould of stubborn defence, Pellegrini’s team may be encouraged to throw caution and entertain the masses. Nothing less would suffice in possibly the most star-studded game of football Australia has witnessed.
The slider? It's from a competition
Eric Humphrey
Guest
I'm watching the City-Madrid match and have a question about the moving seat on the outside of the pitch. Haven't seen or noticed this before. What's it all about?
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Manchester City 1-4 Real Madrid Thanks for your company everyone. I'll be off for a while from football duties at The Roar, but will be back on deck for the Socceroos' second World Cup qualifier on September 3, as Australia meet Bangladesh in Perth. On a record-breaking night at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, it finished Manchester City 1-4 Real Madrid, and that Real Madrid are the winners of the International Champions Cup! Good night!
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Manchester City 1-4 Real Madrid Squiers now with Joe Hart, as Real Madrid players prepare to receive the International Champions Cup. Amongst the hordes of treasure this football club has accumulated over the years, this is a mere trinket, but all the same more silverware. FULLTIME: Manchester City 1-4 Real Madrid
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Manchester City 1-4 Real Madrid Indeed, that's it! We were barely 600 people short of a six-figure crowd total tonight that watched Real Madrid demolish Manchester City 4-1 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground! Only one goal was scored in action-packed second half via Denis Cheryshev, but what a night it has been! It's ideal preparation and pointers for both sides as they ready themselves for the season proper. For Real Madrid and their new manager, they look good to go. For Manchester City, things need work before August 11 at West Bromwich Albion. Sam Squiers has just spoken to Gareth Bale, as we wrap up here. FULLTIME: Manchester City 1-4 Real Madrid
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+3: Final minute at the MCG, as we likely end with a 4-1 result. Real Madrid 4-1 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+1: Three minutes added, and the Melbourne crowd should cherish these. It's been a most amazing night of entertainment for even the football naive out there. Free kick given by Humphries for a foul on Vasquez - is this the final big moment for Real Madrid? No, because it's played back. Looks like Real will settle for four here. Real Madrid 4-1 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'89: Clichy with a long range shot that looked to swerve inside, but the lack of pace on it means Navas can calmly gather. Real Madrid 4-1 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'87: Some lovely touches and skills out there from both teams, but nothing too worry either goalkeeper. This game looks to be petering out to an entertaining, but non goal-threatening end. Real Madrid 4-1 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'82: Another change now, as the substitute Jesus Navas is off for the debutant Patrick Roberts, who arrived from Fulham as part of Manchester City's "Operation English". Real Madrid 4-1 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'80: Free kick again given to Real Madrid, that Vasquez will take. Learning about a few players tonight as a result of the changes en masse for Real Madrid. Headed away by Humphries, as Real keep the ball. What a night at the office it has been for young Cameron Humphries - he will not forget the night where he has allowed four goals past him. Real Madrid 4-1 Manchester City
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Amazing..a lot of AFL people have prob switched over on TV too with the demolition job by Hawthorn at Etihad.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'77: Isco finally is done with his night, as Marcus Llorente comes on for the last 15 minutes. Real Madrid 4-1 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'75: Another record broken - the official crowd is 99,382... 99,382 Words cannot describe the wonder of that for a friendly game. Real Madrid 4-1 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'73: GOAL REAL MADRID Superb from Isco, as he gldes past two navy shirts, and crosses on the right, and it's the sitter of tap-ins for Denis Cheryshev, and Real Madrid finally get their fourth goal! Real Madrid 4-1 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'71: Corner for City is taken, as Casemiro has several goes to clear the ball, and does so. Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'70: Another new man is spotted in the Russian Denis Cheryshev - who will likely make his first team bow for Real Madrid this season. Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'69: If someone can assist me with the current XI for each team, that'd be superb! That's the only issue with friendly games, substitutions feel like AFL or NRL interchanges - there's just so many. Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'67: The game goes on, but the applause near the turnstiles is apparent for Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo, who head for early showers. Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'64: Well here is Edin Dzeko, who makes his first appearance on this tour, rand now also comes off Yaya Toure. Armband passes to Joe Hart, and Ronaldo shoots, and balloons over! Here come the changes, and that is Cristiano Ronaldo's night done! He goes off to a rousing applause from 90,000 plus. Sorry, ut can't keep track as to who is coming in. I can make that Alvaro Arbeloa has come on, while Marcelo and Ramos have made way. I simply cannot see as to who is on the field anymore. Sorry folks. Asier Illaramendi is on - that's one I can confirm for you! Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City