Manchester City and Real Madrid meet in the UEFA Champions League knockouts for the fourth consecutive season, despite this encounter being their first-ever clash in the knockout play-off round.

City enter this tie after a narrow 2-1 FA Cup win over League One’s Leyton Orient and a heavy 5-1 Premier League defeat to Arsenal.

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Guardiola’s side have conceded the opener in their last two home matches, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities which Madrid can exploit.

Real Madrid have eliminated City from the UCL three times—more than any other club—while also knocking out an English team in each of the last four seasons.

The Spanish giants stayed top of La Liga with a 1-1 draw against Atlético Madrid, a second stalemate this season, despite conceding first.

Watch: Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid – Highlights (La Liga)

Madrid haven’t exited the UCL at the first knockout hurdle since 2019/20, when City defeated them 2-1 in both legs.

Bernardo Silva has scored four UCL goals against Madrid, while Rodrygo has netted the same number against City, with two coming before the 15th minute last season.

City remain defensively strong early in games, having not conceded a UCL goal in the first 30 minutes this season.

Watch the last time the two sides met in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase.