Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Champions League derby intensifies
Joseph Guardiola believes that the clashes between Manchester City and Real Madrid are almost like a derby. Both teams are meeting for the fourth consecutive Champions League season, this time in a playoff for advancement to the round of 16.
Manchester City coach Josep Guardiola emphasizes that the matches between his team and Real Madrid are becoming derby-like. Both teams will face each other for the fourth consecutive Champions League season, this time in a playoff for advancement to the round of 16. Real Madrid is defending the title, while Manchester City triumphed in these competitions in 2023.
New Champions League rules
According to the new Champions League rules, teams ranked 1-8 in the league stage advance directly to the round of 16. Among them are Barcelona with Robert Lewandowski and Wojciech Szczęsny. Teams ranked 9-24, including Manchester City, must fight for advancement in the playoffs. Teams ranked 25-36 have already ended their UEFA competition journey.
Manchester City finished 22nd in the league stage, which means they will face a team ranked 11-12 in the playoffs. Ultimately, the draw paired "The Citizens" with Real Madrid, which many experts consider a premature final. The first match will take place in Manchester.
It looks like a derby already, four years in a row facing Madrid, commented Guardiola.
"But whether we would face Bayern or a club from Madrid, both rivals are really tough. Hopefully, we can first play our best at home and then in Spain," added the coach.
Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, also commented on the draw results. "In a perfect world, we wouldn't play them, but we weren't able to get into the top eight, and that's OK," admitted Ancelotti.
The playoffs mean two more matches for participants, but the "Royals" coach is not afraid of this challenge. "Playing two more or fewer games doesn't matter ... we have the resources to deal with it," he stated.
The first playoff matches are scheduled for February 11-12, with the rematches taking place a week later. Both clubs have paired five times in the last six Champions League seasons.
