Guardiola wary of ´exceptional´ Real Madrid amid injury crisis

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was quick to highlight Real Madrid’s habit of producing their best in tough times ahead of their Champions League play-off clash.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side travel to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday with several defensive injuries, including the likes of Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao.

Los Blancos are also missing David Alaba, with the club also confirming Lucas Vazquez would also be absent after sustaining a hamstring problem in the Madrid derby.

Both teams have been handed a blockbuster tie in a two-legged play-off, having finished the new 36-team standings in 11th and 22nd respectively.

City will meet Madrid in the knockout stages for a fourth time, becoming just the fourth fixture in European Cup / Champions League history to be played in four consecutive seasons.

This will be the 13th time that the Citizens have faced Madrid in the Champions League (W4 D5 L3). Of the opponents the LaLiga side have played against five or more times in their European Cup / Champions League history, their win percentage of 25% against City is their lowest against any opponent.

Guardiola’s side have also struggled with injuries of their own this term, but the City boss conceded that Madrid have handled that issue better than his team, with the LaLiga champions at the top of the Spanish top-flight.

“I think both teams have had problems in terms of injuries during the season. Madrid handled it much better than us because they are still top of the league and fighting against Atletico Madrid,” Guardiola told reporters on Monday.

“That shows again the consistency they have. In the end, they are huge competitors. We know it.

“We have faced it many times with them and how in the tough moments they bring the best in them – we know that. Of course, we have to play two good games to go through.”

Back at home for some #UCL action pic.twitter.com/vKbfuSkSc7

— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 9, 2025

The two sides last met in April 2024 in Manchester following an enthralling first-leg encounter at the Bernabeu that ended 3-3 at the quarter-final stage.

City and Madrid could not be separated in the second leg, with Kevin de Bruyne’s strike cancelling out Rodrygo’s opener to take the tie to extra-time and then penalties.

But Andriy Lunin saved spot-kicks from Bernardo Silva and substitute Mateo Kovacic, with Rudiger stepping up to send the eventual winners through to the final four.

Since their last meeting, Real have strengthened an already formidable attack with the signing of Kylian Mbappe, who is supported by Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior.

Indeed, only Lionel Messi (nine) and Karim Benzema (seven) have been directly involved in more Champions League goals against City than Madrid duo Vinicius (two goals, three assists) and Rodrygo (four goals, one assist), with five each.

“They are exceptional,” Guardiola said on Madrid’s star-studded attack, even suggesting that the quartet are impossible to stop.

“How they combine, the runners, the ability one-against-one, how they keep the ball, all four are exceptional.

“Everybody knows it, so you have to reduce that involvement as much as possible, knowing that it’s going to happen, accept it.”

City have endured a testing period on the pitch this season and are languishing in fifth place in the Premier League, 15 points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

Ruben Dias, who joined Guardiola on pre-match press duties on Tuesday, insisted that this campaign had been his most challenging since joining the club in 2020.

However, Dias remained optimistic about his team’s chances of lifting silverware this season, most notably in the Champions League.

“I’m a firm believer that even in the most difficult scenario, the most difficult beginning, you can still do something and achieve something beautiful in the end,” he said.

“Right now, we are still in that position. Obviously, we know how difficult our opposition is and how difficult our way will be to get there.

“But it’s a question of believing in what we have in the dressing room, and we have loads of talent. We just have to use them in the right way.

“With the right belief, we are able to do anything.”