Real Madrid vs Manchester City (UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final first-leg): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head, How to Watch

Manchester City once again travel to the Santiago Bernabeu, this time to face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of this season’s UEFA Champions League knockout stage.

A stadium of mixed emotions for the Blues over the last few years, with a heartbreak at the hands of Rodrygo and a strike for the ages courtesy of Kevin De Bruyne to name a few of the list of memorable moments in the Spanish capital.

In pursuit of an unfathomable “double treble”, Manchester City must relive the glory over the Spanish giants last season, where City put Real Madrid to the sword, with an astonishing 5-1 aggregate scoreline in the semi-finals of this competition.

Vinicius Junior was the only goal scorer for Los blancos last year in this fixture, who was largely kept quiet by Kyle Walker despite his first half strike, however things will certainly be different this year.

Unbeaten in the last 25, the treble winners certainly won’t be shy of confidence and will enter the match believing in their abilities, despite the injuries, with star man Rodri saying he is “so confident” about how the side will play on Tuesday.

With that being said, here is everything you need to know ahead of Tuesday night’s crucial first leg of the quarter-final tie at the Santiago Bernabeu!

Match Details

Manchester City are set to take on the leaders of La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday 9^th April, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 (UK).

Team News

Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker remain out, with the pair unable to travel to Madrid with the rest of the squad on Monday night.

Walker sustained a hamstring injury on international duty last month and hasn’t played since, with the full-back not travelling to the Spanish capital for the first-leg on Tuesday due to his ongoing injury.

Ake also misses out on this one, following his calf injury suffered in the first-half against Arsenal last weekend. Josko Gvardiol has travelled, despite missing Monday’s open training session in Manchester.

The Croatian remains a doubt following his knock he picked up against Crystal Palace on Saturday, with the defender not spotted in training on Monday afternoon.

Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba are ruled out for this one, with the pair both being long-term absentees. The hosts have a fully fit squad otherwise.

Head to Head

The previous meeting between these two clubs was that unforgettable night at the Etihad Stadium, with Pep Guardiola’s side emerging as 4-0 winners in an iconic night in the club’s history.

Real Madrid have had more joy on this ground, with City winning just once here in five previous visits, drawing once and losing three times.

It is a fixture usually packed with goals, with three of the last four encounters between the two seeing four or more goals.

Statistics

• The aggregate score between the two clubs in the head to head battle is 17-14 in favour of Manchester City.

• Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne are the joint top scorers in this fixture, each scoring three goals against Real Madrid.

• Inside 90 minutes, the two clubs are unbeaten in a combined 59 games, with Manchester City unbeaten in 25 and Real Madrid in 34, since losing to Atletico Madrid in September.

How to Watch

For viewers in the United Kingdom, the match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT.

For viewers in the United States, you can view the match on USA Network, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 EST.