LaLiga leaders Real Madrid travel to England to face a struggling Manchester City on Tuesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) knockout phase clash.
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid has been the defining heavyweight rivalry of recent UCL seasons, as two of Europe’s most successful clubs—led by Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti—prepare to face off once again. This time, in the playoffs.
Real Madrid, last season’s LaLiga and Champions League winners, enter this tie as strong favorites against the reigning Premier League champions. However, despite City’s poor domestic season so far, it would be premature to write them off. They still have several world-class players, all highly motivated to pull off an upset against the 15-time UCL champions.
Both of the last two UCL winners failed to qualify automatically for the Round of 16, finishing 11th and 22nd in the new league-phase format. As a result, they now face a two-legged playoff. While Madrid were just one point away from securing a top-eight finish, City had to produce a matchday eight comeback to avoid an embarrassing early exit.
Match Preview
Manchester City’s season may have hit a new low on Saturday when they had to come from behind to defeat English third-tier side Leyton Orient 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round.
Guardiola’s men managed just three wins in their eight UCL group matches, finishing 22nd in the league-phase table.
Despite sitting at the top of LaLiga, Real Madrid have endured an inconsistent season, fueling speculation that this could be Carlo Ancelotti’s final campaign in charge.
Two weeks ago, Los Blancos seemed to be running away with the Spanish league title, but an unexpected 1-0 loss to Espanyol on February 1, followed by a disappointing 1-1 home draw against Atlético Madrid on February 8, has left them with a slender one-point lead.
In the Champions League, Real Madrid haven’t fared much better than Man City, winning only five of their eight matches. However, Ancelotti’s side did enough to secure a playoff spot.
Team News
Manchester City’s new midfielder Nico González endured a nightmare debut, coming off injured in the first half of Saturday’s FA Cup win—just moments after being outmuscled in the buildup to Leyton Orient’s bizarre opening goal.
Guardiola could not say how severe the Spaniard’s issue was immediately after the game, but he now joins Oscar Bobb (leg), Nathan Ake(muscle), Jeremy Doku (unspecified) and Ederson (unspecified) on the doubtful list, while Rodri (ACL) remains sidelined for the long-term.
Meanwhile, Los Blancos head to Manchester in the midst of a defensive crisis. Lucas Vázquez has suffered a new hamstring injury, adding to the absences of Antonio Rüdiger (thigh), Dani Carvajal (knee), Éder Militão (knee), and David Alaba (muscle).
Probable Lineups for Manchester City vs Real Madrid
Manchester City:
Ederson (GK); Nunes, Akanji, Stones, Gvardiol, Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Marmoush, Grealish, Haaland.
Real Madrid:
Courtois (GK); Lucas Vázquez, Tchouaméni, Raúl Asencio, Ferland Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinícius Jr.; Mbappé.
Head-to-Head
- Total matches: 14
- Man City won: 5
- Real Madrid won: 4
- Draws: 5
How to Watch & Stream UEFA Champions League
Date: 02/11/2025
Time: 21:00 CET, 03:00pm EST.
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England.
Available TV: Movistar Liga Campeones, Paramount
Available Streaming: Paramount+, Fubo.TV
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