Ahead of Tuesday’s titanic battle between two of Europe’s finest, we have the Man City vs Real Madrid preview, prediction, latest team news and confirmed lineups.
Man City Vs Real Madrid Preview
Man City will lock horns with their blockbuster opponents for a fourth consecutive season but the first in the new-look UEFA Champions League format.
The Cityzens had a pretty disastrous league campaign by their own high standards. Now, they are rewarded with facing the reigning champions for a spot in the last 16 after finishing in 22nd spot.
Tuesday will be the first-leg of the play-off and Pep Guardiola will know how vital it is to make home advantage count. Last season, the 2023 winners failed to capitalise at the Etihad despite a plethora of chances.
On that occasion, a 1-1 draw ensured a 4-4 aggregate score after extra-time. City’s penalties were tame and they were duly knocked out.
Supporters won’t need reminding of that infamous night but the meeting prior to that in M11 was one of the finest performances in the club’s entire history. Bernardo Silva starred and scored twice in a rampant 4-0 win.
Ready for another classic? 🤩💪#ManCity pic.twitter.com/pBXNeRT9TJ
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 11, 2025
Real Madrid have struggled somewhat against the ‘Big Boys’ this season. Both in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League so Carlo Ancelotti knows it’s vital to get it right. Starting tonight.
Madrid find themselves in a truly precarious position in the play-offs. Failure to progress would likely have a devastating impact on Ancelotti.
Nonetheless, Los Blancos have gotten the better of their opponents in two of the last three seasons. And the reigning champions know how to turn it on when it truly matters.
Interestingly, Real have never won at the Etihad inside 90 minutes. How Ancelotti and his side would love to change that stat this evening.
Ahead of the game, the best football betting sites in the UK make Man City the favourites at EVS. Real Madrid can be backed at 49/18 with the draw 3/1.
Man City Vs Real Madrid Team News
Pep Guardiola gave a Rodri injury update after the midfielder appeared at the Super Bowl on Sunday. The Man City midfielder won’t feature for the foreseeable but the Spaniard is hopeful a return can happen sooner than expected.
Oscar Bobb, Nathan Ake, Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez are all expected to miss out. However, Ederson should be okay to start in goal.
Star striker Erling Haaland was rested for the FA Cup victory at the home of the O’s. The Norwegian will go straight back into the starting XI this evening.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid will have to navigate with a weakened defence at the Etihad. Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and David Alaba are all out.
Lucas Vazquez will also miss out after suffering a fresh hamstring injury. That means Aurelien Tchouameni is set to be deployed as an emergency centre-back.
In terms of suspensions, Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, Endrick and Tchouameni could all miss the second-leg if they are booked.
🧠👀🎯⚽ pic.twitter.com/LqGtTcRrtf
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 10, 2025
Man City Vs Real Madrid Confirmed Lineups
Man City: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Silva, Stones; Savinho, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland
Real Madrid: Courtois; Valverde, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy; Camavinga, Ceballos; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Mbappe
Man City Vs Real Madrid Prediction
As with the nature of the competitors, the score could quite literally be anything between the last two UEFA Champions League winners. However, we are going to side with Man City tonight.
The Cityzens have never lost to Real Madrid inside 90 minutes on home soil and have won every game so far at the Etihad in 2025. Coupled with Real Madrid’s defensive problems, it’s the more likely outcome for City to win.
As always, expect plenty of goals in M11 tonight as the blockbuster play-off tie truly lives up to it’s huge billing.
Prediction: Man City 3-2 Real Madrid
