Real Madrid and Manchester City Gear Up for Highly Anticipated Champions League Clash

Reigning UEFA Champions League champions Manchester City will hope to sweep another contender aside when they head to Spanish giants Real Madrid for the first leg of their quarter-final tie at Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday.

This will be the third straight season that City and Madrid have faced one another in the knockout stages of Europe’s premier club competition, with Los Blancos winning a semi-final tie in their victorious 2021-22 campaign and Man City triumphing en route to glory the following year.

These clashes have seen 17 goals scored across those previous four meetings, at an average of 4.3 per game (seven for Real Madrid, 10 for Man City), as another enticing Champions League clash awaits in the Spanish capital.

According to expert predictions, Pep Guardiola‘s side are the favourites to defend their European crown in 28.3% forecasts, while Madrid rank as the second-most likely to go all the way in 15.0%.

Premier League champions City eased past Copenhagen in their two-legged last-16 tie, emerging victorious with a 6-2 aggregate triumph after a dominant group-stage performance.

However, Madrid are one of only two sides that Erling Haaland has played against more than once without scoring in the Champions League. His seven total shots and five shots on target against Carlo Ancelotti‘s side are both the most against an opponent in the competition.