Manchester City and Real Madrid will meet once again in the Champions League on Tuesday, with the loser facing an early exit from Europe’s top football competition.
The two teams are facing off in the two-legged playoff round after both struggling in the new format of the league phase. This marks the fourth consecutive year that City and Madrid have clashed in the Champions League, with the winner in the previous three encounters going on to win the title.
City enters the first leg amid a difficult season, having seen their Premier League title defense falter. However, Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, still believes his team will need to overcome one of Europe’s best to progress to the next round.
“They are one of the best teams in Europe, and they have the best manager (Pep Guardiola) around. It’s a nightmare preparing for games against him because he always comes up with tactics that make you rethink everything,” Ancelotti said. “I’m convinced that the team that wins this tie will go on to win the competition.”
Guardiola admitted that he is unsure what to expect from his team, as a challenging season has left them in fifth place in the Premier League, trailing 15 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Guardiola acknowledged the lack of consistency in his team, something that has been a defining feature of City over the past decade. He explained that their ability to perform consistently every few days is what enabled them to win six Premier League titles in seven years and claim other major trophies. He added, “If we were consistent, I would feel confident, but right now, I’m unsure.”