Here come the bubble boys! Real Madrid jet into Manchester for Lowry Hotel lockdown before their Champions League clash with City… but Gareth Bale is left behind at home
- The Real Madrid squad are making their way to England to face Manchester City
- Zinedine Zidane’s side must overturn a 2-1 deficit from first leg of the last-16 tie
- Sergio Ramos travelled with the squad despite being suspended for the game
- Real were given government exemption to travel and will stay in The Lowry
The Real Madrid squad have started their journey to England ahead of their Champions League clash away to Manchester City on Friday.
City have a 2-1 lead from the first leg in the last-16 tie having secured victory when the sides met at The Bernabeu in February.
Real are allowed to travel to England due to government exemption and will be staying at The Lowry hotel in Manchester.
Eden Hazard and Lucas Vazquez were also all smiles as they made the trip to Manchester
Raphael Varane (left) and Karim Benzema were in good spirits as they prepared for take off
Sergio Ramos, who is suspended for the game, travelled to Manchester along with Marcelo
All members of the travelling party will be tested for coronavirus when they arrive in England. They will then be divided into groups to travel on coaches to The Lowry, with no individuals from outside the club staying at the hotel.
Real captain Sergio Ramos is suspended after being sent off in the closing stages of the first leg, but he is still travelling to England to give his team support.
Ramos, sent off in the closing stages in the first leg, will support his side from the stands
Ramos was pictured wearing a suit and a mask as he boarded the plane.
The likes of Raphael Varane and Karim Benzema smiled as they posed for a picture, while Eden Hazard was also in good spirits.
Another player who won’t be involved at the Etihad Stadium is Gareth Bale, who was left out of Real’s travelling squad.
Hazard made the trip to England as Real prepare to take on Manchester City on Friday
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is determined for his team to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit
Bale has been used sparingly recently having fallen out of favour with Zinedine Zidane.
Mariano Diaz was also not included after he recently tested positive for Covid-19.
The winners of this tie will face Lyon or Juventus in the quarter-finals.
Real will go into the game with confidence having been crowned LaLiga champions.
