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Manchester City fans will have an episode of deja vu when the Blues face up to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in a fortnight.

The team which the Spanish giants field on February 26 will be very similar to that which squeezed City out at the semi-final stage three years ago, winning 1-0 over two tense legs.

In fact, ten of the 14 players who turned out for Real in those two games are still with them – and City’s squad is a completely different matter.

Just six of City’s 14 players remain – Nicolas Otamendi, Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling.

There is little doubt that City are now a stronger attacking unit than they were under Manuel Pellegrini in 2016, when Aguero’s late dipping shot was a rare moment of jeopardy for a Madrid side that was in control of both games.

Both teams were hit by injury, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing the first leg for Real, while Yaya Toure was out for the Blues.

Crucially, City lost skipper and icon Vincent Kompany ten minutes into the second leg, when David Silva – also injured – was replaced by Toure.

City’s hero over the two games was undoubtedly Joe Hart, whose two fabulous saves from Casemiro and Pepe ensured a goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium.

Hart’s shot-stopping ability has been missed by City in the Champions League, where the England man produced his best form – the bigger the game, the better he got.

But Ederson is clearly the better fit for Pep Guardiola’s City, while full-backs Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy are stronger than the pairing of Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy.

Aymeric Laporte, if 100 per cent fit, is also a good fit for the current team, although his likely partner Fernandinho’s shift from midfield to centre back has taken something away from the engine room of the team.

But Rodri is a big improvement on Fernando, who started in both legs, and Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva are upgrades on Jesus Navas, another starter in both games.

Sterling was used off the bench – perhaps Pellegrini’s greatest failing at City was to not get the best out of the England star, who has blossomed under Guardiola.

The fact that £42million misfit Eliaquim Mangala was the man to replace Kompany, just ten minutes into the second leg, tells you that centre back issues are not just today’s problem for City.

Comparing the two teams gives City cause for optimism – they are a stronger, slicker, better-organised outfit now, with only Kompany, Hart’s shot-stopping and the midfield version of Fernandinho able to improve today’s team.

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Madrid, on the other hand, have hit a degree of stasis which has led to a need for a revamp of their squad – they retain that powerful midfield three of Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, while Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale remain potent threats on their day, and Sergio Ramos is still the quintessential defender.

But the gaping wound left by Ronaldo’s departure will take time to heal, and even the excellent Eden Hazard has not quite managed that.

Ramos’ wily centre-back partner Pepe has also gone, but with Raphael Varane stepping in seamlessly their back four has a sense of permanency, Dani Carvajal is likely to be right-back, while Marcelo now has fierce competition from Ferland Mendy for the left-back spot.

With Hazard expected to be fit again after an ankle injury, his replacement of Ronaldo could well be the only change from the front six which edged past City in 2016.

Pellegrini’s City were second-best that time, but if Guardiola’s version hits the straps, there are serious grounds for optimism.