Man City will begin the knockout phase of the champions League on Tuesday night when they will host the Spanish Giants Real Madrid.
The introduction of the new UCL format has added an extra knockout round, with 16 teams battling for the remaining eight spots in the last 16 after finishing between 9th and 24th in the league phase.
Defying expectations, defending champions Real Madrid and Manchester City—one of the tournament’s strongest sides in recent years—have both found themselves in this precarious stage. That means one of these giants will fall before the round of 16.
Madrid secured their passage by winning their final three league-phase games, finishing 11th with 15 points.
Meanwhile, City endured a rough patch, going four games without a win (D1, L3), before a crucial 3-1 comeback victory over Club Brugge on Matchday 8 sealed their place in the knockouts. The Premier League champions ended the phase in 22nd with 11 points.
On the domestic front, Carlo Ancelotti’s side leads La Liga and has advanced to the Copa del Rey semi-finals. City, meanwhile, are struggling to break into the Premier League’s top four but remain in the FA Cup.
When it comes to Champions League knockout ties, Ancelotti has had the upper hand, eliminating Guardiola on three occasions—2013-14, 2021-22, and 2023-24. Now, for the fourth consecutive season, Madrid and City are set to clash in the competition’s knockout phase.
Los Blancos head into this fixture in impressive form, winning their last three Champions League games while scoring 11 goals in the process.
In contrast, City have struggled in Europe, managing just one win in their last five matches (D1, L3) since their 5-0 thrashing of Sparta Prague in October.
Man City Predicted lineup (4-2-3-1)
Ederson (GK); Nunes, Akanji, Stones, Gvardiol; Gundogan, Gonzalez; Silva, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland.
Real Madrid Predicted lineup (4-2-3-1)
Courtois (GK); Vazquez, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.
Man City vs Real Madrid Predictions & Betting Tips
Madrid’s superior Champions League pedigree and recent form give them an edge, but Manchester City’s firepower cannot be underestimated.
With Madrid’s defensive injuries and City’s struggles at the back, we expect an open contest. A high-scoring draw or a narrow Madrid win seems likely, with Vinícius Júnior and Haaland pivotal.
Both teams to score
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Antonio Rüdiger picked up a thigh injury against Espanyol and has yet to return.
David Alaba, who recovered from an ACL tear, suffered an adductor injury on 4 February and is set for another spell on the sidelines.
Eduardo Camavinga made a brief return as a late substitute on Saturday after missing six games with a hamstring injury.
Dani Carvajal (out since 5 October) and Éder Militão (since 9 November) are both expected to miss the rest of the season due to knee injuries.
