Manchester City vs. Real Madrid: A Modern-Day Clásico
As the football world gears up for another thrilling encounter between Manchester City and Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti has declared that this matchup “feels like a Clásico now.” This sentiment comes as no surprise, given that these two giants of European football are set to clash in the Champions League for the fourth consecutive season. Ancelotti has backed the winner of this tie to “go far in the competition,” a prediction that has held true in recent years.
In the past, City and Madrid have faced off in the Champions League semifinals or quarterfinals. Madrid emerged victorious in 2022 and 2024, while City claimed the win in 2023. This time, however, they meet in the knockout phase playoff, a result of underwhelming European campaigns from both sides.
Manchester City enters Tuesday’s first leg at the Etihad Stadium with a less-than-stellar season, currently sitting fifth in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Real Madrid, despite leading LaLiga, is grappling with an injury crisis that has sidelined key defenders such as Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, and David Alaba.
During his pre-match news conference in Manchester on Monday, Ancelotti expressed his respect for City, stating, “It feels like a Clásico now, because we’ve played them now for many years. I still think City are one of the best teams in Europe. City have the best coach [Pep Guardiola] in this competition. It’s one of the most difficult games you can have … And the same goes for us, we’re competitive, despite the emergency we face.”
Looking back at their previous encounters, the 2022 semifinals saw Madrid triumph over City with a 6-5 aggregate win, thanks to a dramatic second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu where all three goals came in added time. In 2024, the quarterfinals required a penalty shootout to separate the two teams. On both occasions, Madrid went on to win the Champions League, while City claimed the title after eliminating Madrid in 2023.
Ancelotti further emphasized the challenge of facing Guardiola’s City, describing it as “always a headache.” He praised Guardiola’s innovative approach to football, saying, “He’s a coach who always tries to bring something new to his team. He’s done a lot for football in terms of possession, pressing, playing out from the back. He’s an innovator. I have a lot of respect for him … It’s always a nightmare preparing for the game.”
One player who has fond memories of facing City is forward Rodrygo, who starred in the 2022 encounter by scoring twice in a minute to help Madrid progress. Reflecting on that experience, Rodrygo shared, “I was talking two or three days to [midfielder] Fede Valverde, about the game against City. I asked him if we’d ever feel that emotion again. It was the most special night of my career … Sometimes I’ve been happy playing against [City], other times not so much. I’m in good form and I can be decisive. But I try to be decisive in every game, not just against City.”
- Manchester City vs. Real Madrid is now considered a modern-day Clásico.
- Both teams have faced each other in the Champions League for four consecutive seasons.
- Real Madrid has won the Champions League after defeating City in 2022 and 2024.
- City claimed the title in 2023 after eliminating Madrid.
- Both teams are facing challenges this season, with City struggling in the Premier League and Madrid dealing with an injury crisis.
As the stage is set for another epic showdown, fans around the world eagerly anticipate whether this year’s clash will live up to the high drama and excitement of previous encounters. With both teams having a history of success in this competition, the stakes are as high as ever.
Originally Written by: Alex Kirkland,Rodrigo Faez
