by For the third successive season, Real Madrid have been drawn in opposition to Manchester City within the UEFA Champions League (UCL) knockout levels. It’s 1-1 when it comes to development throughout the final two seasons, however with a constructive residence file from these ties (W1, D1), Real will hope they’ve what it takes to a minimum of get off to a constructive begin in the hunt for a fifteenth European Cup/UCL crown.
The omens are good for taking the following step on the highway to glory, as Los Blancos have gained their final 11 UCL quarter-final ties and have extremely knocked English opposition out at this stage within the final three editions! An spectacular 16 wins from their final 21 European residence video games (D3, L2) would recommend they’re good worth to get off to begin in making that 4 this time round, and having not performed on the weekend, they need to be raring to go right here.
City did have a recreation on the weekend, despatching Crystal Palace 4-2 within the Premier League to once more stake their declare of their title defence. They’re additionally defending the UCL for the primary time ever, however with a adverse file away to Spanish opposition (W4, D3, L8), their crown maybe comes beneath its greatest menace but right here, though with a 22-match unbeaten European run in tow, toppling City is a gargantuan activity for anybody.
Ironically, the final group to beat them in European motion was Real Madrid themselves within the 2021/22 semi-finals, largely due to a collapse within the away leg. The Santiago Bernabéu stays a stadium City have struggled in, profitable on simply one in all their 5 visits (D1, L3), however there’s an additional layer of spice right here for former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, who has gained six of his final eight (D1, L1) private duels with Real boss Carlo Ancelotti.
Players to observe: Jointly main the way in which for assists on this season’s UCL, Jude Bellingham has arrange a objective in 4 of his final 5 appearances within the competitors. Unsurprisingly collectively topping the goalscoring charts, Erling Haaland has seen 4 of his six UCL targets this time period arrive after half-time.
Hot stat: Man City have conceded precisely as soon as in six of their final seven UCL away video games.
