Manchester City travel to Real Madrid to renew a rivalry that has arguably come to define the past few years of the UEFA Champions League. Wednesday will mark the second of their three meetings this season, and it should be a humdinger.
Ahead of the first of those, in December, Madrid’s Rodrygo had told UEFA that “It’s become a true Champions League derby,” but the Brazilian — who has such a rich history of scoring in this fixture — isn’t there, an ACL injury ending his season early, and neither is the man who was coach back then. With Xabi Alonso sacked, Pep Guardiola faces yet another new Madrid man in charge in Alvaro Arbeloa.
Here’s everything you need to know about the match:
How to watch
The match will be broadcast on Saturday on TNT Sports 1 and Prime Video in the UK, Paramount+ in the U.S., SonyLiv in India and Stan Sport in Australia. You can also follow ESPN’s live coverage here.
Key Details
Kick-off time: Wednesday, March 11 at 8 p.m. GMT (3 p.m. ET; 1:30 a.m. IST and 7 a.m. AEDT, Thursday)
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy)
VAR: Marco Di Bello (Italy)
Injury News
Real Madrid
Álvaro Carreras, D: OUT, calf
David Alaba, D: OUT, muscle
Éder Militão, D: OUT, tendon
Dani Ceballos, M: OUT, thigh
Jude Bellingham, M: OUT, hamstring
Kylian Mbappé, F: OUT, knee
Rodrygo, F: OUT, knee
Man City
Josko Gvardiol, D: OUT, ankle
Max Alleyne, D: DOUBT, knock
Mateo Kovacic, M: OUT, ankle
Talking Points
Rudiger vs Haaland is always box office
Antonio Rüdiger is one of the best centre-backs in the world and has been for some time. Ditto Erling Haaland in the centre-forward role. In 2024, Rudiger said, “It’s personal for me as a defensive player, against a super striker like Haaland.” That feeling has made their battles must-watch television, and while Haaland got a goal in the latest iteration earlier this season (scoring after winning a penalty off the German), that’s the first time in five attempts that he had scored against the Madrid centre-back in the UCL.
Neither are at their best in this moment, but perhaps it’s a sight of the other that could spark their seasons to life. City fans would certainty appreciate Haaland’s unusual goal drought ending on Wednesday.
Can Vinicius Jr. step up in Kylian Mbappe’s absence
Like December, Madrid will miss Kylian Mbappé’s immense threat up top in their home game against City, but unlike December, Vinicius Jr. is now in fine form. The turn of the year seems to have sparked him to life: but the goalscoring charts indicate just how far behind Mbappé he has been this season. In LaLiga, Mbappé has 23 goals to Vinícius’ nine. In the Champions League,Mbappé has 13 to the Brazilian’s three — but if his performance against Benfica was any indication, he’s past that initial drought.
Whatever way Arbeloa shapes up, Vinicius will look to drift to the left wing and target Man City’s right back, Matheus Nunes like he did in the game in December … and that could be one of the defining battles of the game.
Speaking of battles: Jérémy Doku vs Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold was another absentee in December, but he’s been a more permanent fixture in the team recently. His incredible passing range from deep has opened up more avenues of scoring for Madrid as the season has worn on and he’s gotten onto the wavelength of his forwards. .. but up against him on Wednesday will be the pace and directness of Jérémy Doku.
Doku has found end product more often than not this season, seemingly addressing an issue that has plagued him for so much of his City career and if he once again finds that early season form, it could be a long night at the Bernabeu for Alexander-Arnold and Madrid.
Can Man City repeat their trick from the league stage?
With Madrid this injury hit, the stage couldn’t be better set for Guardiola to manage his side to another win at the Bernabeu. Arbeloa is likely to set his team for the counterattack, something his squad is especially good at, while Guardiola’s possession-heavy approach will make for an aesthetically pleasing clash of styles. Haaland seems to have found an edge on Rudiger finally, and while it’s likely to be a tight contest, City’s squad depth and Guardiola’s tactical nous may just be enough for them to edge it again.
What do the numbers say?
-
City and Madrid are meeting in the Champions League knockout phase for the fifth season in a row, with Madrid winning the last two ties. They have met 15 times in UEFA competition, with the head-to-head balanced at five wins each and five draws
-
Madrid and the early knockouts are a match made in Florentino Perez heaven: they rarely lose. They have won 13 of their last 15 Champions League round of 16 ties and triumphed in the first leg in ten of their last 12 ties.
-
Man City, though, won’t be flustered. They have lost only three of their last 18 UEFA matches against Spanish teams (W10 D5) even if Premier League club have lost seven of their last ten UEFA two-legged ties against Spanish teams
