Manchester City will face 13-time European champions Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League tonight, and are under pressure to get a result following their recent ban from the upcoming two campaigns – here is how both teams line up!
Teams: Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Date: 26 February
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Time: 22:00
Historically, Los Blancos are the clear favourites for this high-profile clash, having reached and won four of the past six finals and 13 overall in Europe's elite club competition, while City are yet to win the tournament.
In fact, City have reached the Champions League semi-finals only once before, in the 2015/16 campaign, when they lost 1-0 on aggregate to Real, with the latter moving on to claim their 11th title.
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The only other two meetings between the two sides came in the group stage of the 2012/13 campaign, when Real won their home game 3-2 and drew 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium. As such, the Citizens are still winless against the Spanish giants.
This season, though, City are unbeaten in the UCL after qualifying in top spot from Group C. Real, meanwhile, lost their opening match 3-0 to Paris Saint-Germain, but managed to rally themselves to eventually claim second spot in Group A and book their ticket to the round of 16.
Real have only won three of their past nine home fixtures in the competition, drawing three and losing three – although they have been beaten in just four of their past 49 Champions League home matches.
Last season was the first time since 2009/10 that Los Blancos were knocked out at the round of 16 stage, losing 5-3 on aggregate to Ajax Amsterdam. City's last 16 record reads three wins and three knockouts, with the Premier League side thumping Schalke 04 10-2 on aggregate in 2018/19.
Both teams are currently second in their respective leagues, but the hosts have lost only twice in this campaign, while City have already picked up six defeats this season.
Los Blancos, though, will be without the services of injured superstar Eden Hazard, who broke his ankle in their 1-0 defeat to Levante on the weekend.
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Valverde; Isco; Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
Manchester City: Ederson. Walker, Laporte, Otamendi, Mendy, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Jesus.
