Manchester City face a difficult test against Real Madrid in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie in 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.
Trailing 3-0 on aggregate, Man City must simply win by a four-goal margin to overturn their deficit and progress to the Quarter-Finals.
Real Madrid meanwhile simply need to avoid defeat or lose by two goals or fewer to advance to the last eight, whilst a loss of a three-goal margin will send the tie to extra time and potentially penalties.
Team News
Man City have no fresh injury concerns after they drew 1-1 at West Ham on Saturday evening in the Premier League, as Mateo Kovacic made a surprise return from a lengthy foot injury as an unused substitute.
Rico Lewis (ankle) and Josko Gvardiol (leg) remain sidelined.
Real Madrid could be without Raul Asensio due to a fitness issue, but otherwise have no fresh injury concerns after their 4-1 La Liga win at home against Elche.
Ferland Mendy, David Alaba (both muscle), Alvaro Carreras, Dani Ceballos (both calf), Jude Bellingham (hamstring), Kylian Mbappe (knee), Rodrygo (ACL) and Eder Militao (tendon) are sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City host Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 17 March at 8pm GMT, live on Amazon Prime in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man City have won just one of their last five meetings against Real Madrid (W1, L4).
- Real Madrid have won just one of their seven previous Champions League visits to Man City (W1, D3, L3).
- Man City have won three of their four home matches in this season’s Champions League (W3, L1).
- Real Madrid have kept two clean sheets in their five away matches in this season’s Champions League (W3, L2).
Prediction
With the Premier League title now slipping out of of their grasp and the Carabao Cup plus FA Cup titles no guarantee, Man City need to just reset and work to produce a second-leg comeback with stronger defending and more clinical attacking play if want to keep their silverware options open.
Real Madrid meanwhile know that the pressure is on Man City so can afford to sit back a bit but I still expect another professional performance as saw against Elche and in the first leg, especially given their away struggles at City in which they took one win in their previous visits.
City though will be keen to produce a response after a wasteful draw at West Ham in which they allowed the Hammers to equalise with their only shot of the whole match, especially as their eye will now partially be on the Carabao Cup Final on Sunday but I fancy Real Madrid to be too strong.
Prediction: Man City 1-2 Real Madrid
Result: Man City 1-2 Real Madrid (Real Madrid win 5-1 on aggregate)