Manchester City and Real Madrid have often locked up horns in recent seasons, but one of the last two Champions League winners will be eliminated before the round of 16
Both Big-Hitters had a hard time in the new competition phase of the Champions League. City needed a comeback victory against Club Brugge to ensure that they were not eliminated before the play-off round, while three defeats from eight left Carlo Ancelotti's team behind a top-mind finish.
It is a third consecutive season in which these teams are confronted in Europe. Madrid won on penalties in the past term and after extra time in 2022, while City 5-1 were total winners on their way to their triple triple.
How will it play this time? The writers of Mirror Football have given their judgment for the first stage, with City and Madrid both desperately to put a marker while they compete for a chance to accept Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16.
Jeremy Cross
If Manchester City had difficulty beating League One Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, how is they expected to get the Kings of Europe better?
According to their own high standards, Real Madrid has not been in full swing this season. But the superstars of Carlo Ancelotti have only lost twice in all competitions since the first week of December. And the Spanish giants seem to think that they have a divine right to win the Champions League every season.
Combine this with the disastrous form of the city this season, and it seems that there is a big demand for Pep Guardiola's side to really pass over two legs. City should take advantage of the home leg back to the Spanish capital, otherwise they will not have a chance. Prediction: Manchester City 1 Real Madrid 3
Mike Walters
Too close to call – or too repetitive for neutral to ensure?
The biggest problem with the Champions League, or TV wallpaper as it should be, is that every year it is the same cast in the knockout rounds. The usual suspects.
It would be a nice change if HERGY Gerdy Rovers or Smorgasbord Rangers get an InkusPring, but money talks the loudest and the winners of this draw will probably continue and the European Cup will win.
This season is the fact that City and Real meet in a play-off round of the repecage, instead of the final or the semis (which should be the case), is a tribute to their amazing complacency in the competition phase.
I don't feel like the opportunities of the city. They need a clean slate in at least one of the legs, and they have only managed three in their last 15 games – against Salford, Ipswich and Leicester. League Two Minnows and two of the lower three of the Premier League. I expect the first stage to be more Cagey than London Zoo. Prediction: Manchester City 1 Real Madrid 1
Andy Dunn
If Manchester City reproduces the standards of their last meeting with Real Madrid – one that ended with the Spaniards who won on penalties – they will win at Etihad. The 1-1 draw in the second stage of the quarterfinals of last season was something of a travesty and Pep Guardiola would take that kind of performance this time.
The problem is that there is no rodri and the intensity of the city – especially outside the ball – has disappeared, which means that they are waiting for a defensive accident to happen. That is why, with their firepower, will score more than once in Manchester, especially as Ederson is not suitable for playing.
But there have been some rumors about Disharmonie in the real camp – as there are always – and I have a Dutch city will also have a lot of attacking joy. It may not be a classic, but it will be enormously entertaining, that's for sure. I go for a high scoring draw that will leave the draw on the balance. Prediction: Manchester City 3 Real Madrid 3
Nathan Ridley
Back to when these teams met each other in the Champions League 10 months ago, they were – in my book – the two best sides in the world. But after what an upper few months has been for both clubs, only one will reach the last 16 in Europe's elite competition.
The opportunities must be stacked in favor of Manchester City, where Real Madrid runs through a real injury crisis in the defense. But even the powerful city worked on Saturday a victory over Leyton Orient at Leyton Orient, which should give the men of Carlo Ancelotti.
I support Erling Haaland to break his duck against Real, but Kylian Mbappe and Co. Will have something to take back to the Bernabeu. Prediction: Manchester City 1 Real Madrid 1
David McDonnell
With both parties with so many defensive problems, especially real, there is the potential that this is again a high scoring meeting, just like the Epic 3-3 yellow play last season in the quarterfinals in the Bernabeu.
City will want to take advantage of the weakened back line of Real, with Carlo Ancelotti Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vasquez and David Alaba Mist, with Erling Haaland looking for his duck against the Spanish giants in the fifth time of questions.
When even Pep Guardiola admits that he has no idea which version of his city team will appear, given their unusually poor form this season, it is difficult to make score forecasts with some degree of certainty. Yet one thing is certain – real possession is the most formidable attack in world football and will look as such to take a healthy lead back to the Bernabeu for the decisive second stage per week tomorrow.
Guardiola admitted that it is “impossible” to cancel Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Vinicius JR and Jude Bellingham about two legs, the fear of City that the attack of Real will not show them and the second stage a formality for the will make holders. In that sense, tonight can be a case of damage limit and enclosure for Guardiola and his players. Prediction: Manchester City 1 Real Madrid 2
Mark Jones
It was interesting to see that Eduardo Camavinga only came the last nine minutes of the 1-1 derby with Atletico Madrid with Dani Ceballos, while Federico Valverde is moving ahead of right back. If that means a front four from Jude Bellingham, Rodryo, Vinicius JR and Kylian Mbappe, look out of the city.
Play that way and really is just too powerful for a cracking side, but City still has enough to go the other way to harm them. I see goals, but most of them are in the Stadnet. Prediction: Manchester City 2 Real Madrid 4
Alan Smith
Real Madrid arrives in Manchester with a patched group of defenders full of names that many have never read before. But this is their competition with a long history of finding ways to win, even when the opportunities are stacked against them.
The Pep Guardiola team remains unable to consistently produce a top level. Signs of the constant fragility of the city were in the FA Cup victory against Leyton Orient on Saturday and it is so difficult to see a way they can progress in this draw over two legs.
Still, because of the selection problems that the Carlo Ancelotti team is confronted with, City could take a slim benefit after this first stage … that they will not maintain in the reverse match of next week. Prediction: Manchester City 2 Real Madrid 1
Tom Victor
Manchester City has not been to their best this season, but Real Madrid has been inconsistent that the time of Pep Guardiola will feel that they have a chance. This has been a fixed value with a lot of excitement in the past, and it would be typical if the two parties somehow play a bore withdrawal, but I see neither excluding.
This should not be a game for defenses. After October, City did not record Champions League -Schone leaf, while Madrid only knew once from their eight competition phase matches.
Given how much is at stake, I would be surprised to see this as a match for the second stage. However, Madrid should not be afraid and can send a number of warning recordings before he returns to the Bernabeu. Prediction: Manchester City 2 Real Madrid 2
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