From Spain: Manchester City’s first-leg Champions League tie with Real Madrid could be subject to shock change

Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid could be subject to a shock fixture change, according to claims from Spain.

Pep Guardiola’s side were drawn against Carlo Ancelotti’s for a third consecutive season in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, with the Premier League and La Liga heavyweights set to do battle in the quarter-finals.

Manchester City beat Real Madrid en route to a maiden Champions League trophy last season, thumping the Spanish side 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-final stages, after an emphatic 4-0 second-leg win at the Etihad Stadium.

The Sky Blues set-up a quarter-final tie with Real following a 6-2 aggregate win over FC Copenhagen in the last-16, with Manchester City unbeaten in the European competition since a last-gasp defeat to Real Madrid in May 2022.

The winners of the tie will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund awaiting the winners in the Final at Wembley Stadium in June.

City have played Real Madrid on 10 previous occasions, and are due to play the first-leg in Spain and second-leg at the Etihad Stadium, following the completion of Champions League draw.

A report from Spain has claimed that the destination of the tie could sensationally be switched however, amid security concerns surrounding Atletico Madrid facing a home first-leg tie the same midweek.

According to the information of X account ‘Madrid Xtra’, who relay claims by Spanish outlet GOL PLAY, UEFA could order changes to the tie between Manchester City and Real Madrid due Atletico Madrid versus Borussia Dortmund being drawn first.

UEFA have previously switched ties due to security concerns, with the potential for Manchester City to be forced to instead play the first-leg at the Etihad Stadium and second-leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

First-leg ties of the quarter-finals are scheduled to take place on either Tuesday 9th or Wednesday 10th of April, meanwhile second-leg ties are scheduled to take place on either Tuesday 16th or Wednesday 17th April.

The first-leg will take place either side Premier League games against Crystal Palace and Luton Town, meanwhile City’s second-leg fixture will come either side of the Luton clash and either a meeting with Tottenham or an FA Cup semi-final.