Champions League: Clash of Champs as Compelling as Ever

Manchester City vs Real Madrid

This is a meeting of the two best teams in Europe – with fully fit squads that is.

In fact, it’s because Manchester City and Real Madrid have had so many injuries to key men this term – combined with one of two ageing stars not quite living up to their billing – that the respective champions of England and Spain (and Europe) are meeting in a last 32 play-off of the Champions League rather than much later in the competition.

After six enthralling meetings in the semi-finals and quarter-finals respectively over the past three seasons though, it should make no less compelling viewingas Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti prepare to lock horns for the fourth season in succession.

Talking Points 

As the sides bid to seek much needed Champions League 2025 highlights, we should look at how they both got on domestically at the weekend.

Both had very different assignments. Both emerged unscathed – just.

For around 20 minutes on Saturday lunchtime, City looked like they may be victims of one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history, only to come from behind to end the spirited challenge of League One Leyton Orient.

He may be showing signs of being past his peak, but Kevin de Bruyne can still deliver and he rescued City from the bench.

That was one of the few bright spots for manager Guardiola as new signing Nico Gonzalez lasted less than 25 minutes before succumbing to injury, while centre back Ruben Dias was replaced at the break on his first game back.

Perhaps that was just as a precaution and it remains to be seen if either player will be involved on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Real had a much tougher test and also came from behind to draw with city rivals Atletico.

Kylian Mbappe’s 16^th league goal of the season earned them a point and ensured they remained a point clear of Atletico at the La Liga summit.

Now though for the competition Los Blancos club desires most of all.

History

These sides have had some key clashes in the past decade.

None more so of course than in the semi-finals three seasons ago.

Then they took part in a first leg which will live long in the memory of neutrals as the two sides produced the joint-highest scoring ever Champions League semi-final.

Somehow, though, the drama was not over.

The following week, I can still remember leaving the hotel restaurant where I was enjoying a few days’ holiday with City 1-0 up in the second leg in Madrid and 5-3 ahead on aggregate with minutes remaining.

By the time I got back to the hotel room and checked the score, I could not believe what I was seeing.

The remarkable turnaround saw Rodrygo score twice – in the 90^th minute and then in stoppage time – before Karim Benzema’s extra-time penalty won the day and sealed a 6-5 aggregate victory.

Real went onto be crowned champions of Europe a few weeks later and, of course, are the current holders too.

City gained revenge convincingly at the same stage a year later with a 5-1 aggregate win and finally realised their European dream a month later.

And then in the quarter-final last term, the sides shared six goals in another epic in Spain before a 1-1 draw in the second leg – Rodrygo and Kevin de Bruyne the scorers. Real went onto triumph 5-4 on spot-kicks after more than 220 compelling minutes.

They met in the 2016 semi-finals too, drawing 0-0 in Manchester before Fernando’s own goal at the Santiago Bernabéu took Real to the final, where they beat city rivals Atletico on penalties.

Pep Guardiola’s men avenged that defeat in 2020, with 2-1 success away – a night when Sergio Ramos received the 26^th red card of his career and Manchester City came of age in Europe – and then at home when City took advantage of Real defensive errors.

The sides’ only other competitive fixtures came in the 2012/13 group stage when Madrid twice came from behind to win 3-2 in Spain on Matchday 1. City led twice through Edin Džeko (68) and Aleksandar Kolarov (85) but Madrid responded through Marcelo (76) and Karim Benzema (87) before Cristiano Ronaldo snatched a 90th-minute victory.

The return in Manchester ended one-apiece with Sergio Agüero’s penalty cancelling out Benzema’s 10^th minute opener.

Those four points helped José Mourinho’s Madrid finish second in Group D, behind Borussia Dortmund; City, then managed by Roberto Mancini, ended bottom with three points having not won a game.

Betting Tip 

City have got the edge with the array of attractive SBOTOP bets you can pick from.

They are priced 1X2 @ 2.19 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.06.

Real, meanwhile are on offer 1X2 @ 2.74 and Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.17.

A re-run of their 1-1 draw from last season’s quarter-final second leg in Manchester, a tie Real won in a penalty shoot-out, is available @ 7.30 with Correct Score, and if you really want to go crazy and focus on that unforgettable 3-3 draw from the Bernabeu last term, then a lovely pay day @ 34.00 awaits.

These sides have only ever contested one goalless draw, a first leg semi-final in 2016, and I am not expecting another.

Neither are the experts, clearly, given total goal 0-1 is up for your betting delectation @ 4.78, compared to 2-3 @ 2.18 and 4-6 @ 2.50.

I do think there will be goals and I do think Real Madrid will return back to Spain with something.

 

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