Manchester City and Real Madrid meet in the 4th year in a row

Duel of the most valuable teams

Since both Real Madrid and Manchester City have remained behind the expectations in the Champions League, the duel of the world’s most valuable teams already occurs in the intermediate round. “In the fourth year in succession we are now playing against Real Madrid. It feels like a derby, ”said Pep Guardiola at the press conference before the game. But the signs have changed.

In mid -February, the Citizens held 37 games this season and went eleven times as a loser. Since Guardiola’s office took office in 2016, City has been received, with the exception of the 2019/20 season, fewer than ten losses. “We were unstable this season, and we were not in the past. When we won the triple, we were a machine, ”stated Guardiola. The series master is currently only in fifth place in the Premier League, the deficit to leaders Liverpool is 15 points (for the table).

With expenditure of 218 million euros, the Skyblues upgraded again in winter and committed one of the best scorers in Europe to date this season with Omar Marmoush. Only Chelsea (€ 330 million) ever invested more in a winter transfer window than City this January (€ 218 million). With a squad value of 1.3 billion euros, the English champion provides the most valuable squad, followed by opponent Real Madrid with EUR 1.23 billion. Both had their problems in the group phase of the Champions League. While the Madrilenen jumped in eleventh place with a 3-0 at Stade Brest on the last match day, City was saved with a 3-1 against Bruges in the playoffs (for the table). “We weren’t good enough in the group phase. We don’t deserve to be right in the round of 16, ”Guardiola had to recognize.

Man City vs. Real: The games seven and eight in four years

Guardiola sees the fact that City could still be won for the second time in club history. “We were very struggling this season. Of course, it would be good to continue for the club, for the prestige, to win this competition. In the past I thought that the team was constant and we can do it, but now it is, I don’t know. “

The games in the intermediate round have become nine and ten between the two clubs since 2020. It is the fourth season in a row, in Real Madrid and Man City, most recently in the semi -finals and once in the quarter -finals of the premier class. Real Madrid was able to prevail twice, once the Citizens. Carlo Ancelotti also has great respect for the task on the Blancos side. “They are one of the best teams in Europe, they have the best trainer, so I think it is the most difficult game that we can manage, regardless of the form,” said the Italian. The two most successful coaches of the Champions League met twelve times, Guardiola won five times, four times Ancelotti. The Italian was able to win the premier class five times, the Spaniard succeeded three times.

While City has to continue to do without Ballon-d’Or winner Rodri and newcomer Nico González, real worries are plagued in defense. With Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba, Daniel Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez, five defenders are missing. The position on the right is vacant, and Raúl Asencio and midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni recently defended in the center.