Pep Guardiola reacts to UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw against Real Madrid

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reacted to drawing Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on Friday.

The Blues will face off against the ever increasingly familiar Spanish giants for the 10th and 11th times in the last five seasons amid a quest for an unprecedented quadruple.

City remain locked in their hunt of Premier League leaders Arsenal in the title race as they prepare for a visit to Leeds United on Saturday in search of a sixth consecutive win in all competitions.

Guardiola’s side have turned a corner this month following a poor start to 2026 that saw questions asked of their silverware prospects after they squandered leads against Chelsea, Brighton and Tottenham in the Premier League across January and February.

However, the tide has well and truly turned at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City stake their claim in all competitions, having progressed to the Carabao Cup final, FA Cup fifth round and the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

Real Madrid represent as familiar an opposition as any that Guardiola and Manchester City have encountered in Europe over the years, with the Blues set to face one of Atalanta or Bayern Munich should they reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

Guardiola and his players will have kept a close eye on Friday’s draw but the Catalan will be reminding his side that the need of the hour is for City to maintain their domestic form and keep Arsenal on their toes.

A brace from Nico O’Reilly helped Manchester City claim a crucial 2-1 triumph over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium last week, with Arsenal also returning to winning ways courtesy of a stylish 4-1 north London derby victory over Tottenham.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Elland Road, Guardiola delivered his verdict on yet another coming together with Real Madrid in Europe for the Blues.

“For our club, as much (as) you play against the best times in all history in this competition, you learn, you improve and are better in the future,” the Catalan said in a press conference on Friday afternoon on whether City’s recent history against Real Madrid can help them approach the upcoming Round of 16 battle.

How City have fared against Real Madrid has played a great determining role in how City have fared in the UEFA Champions League since 2021 – and Guardiola will have known deep within, even prior to Friday’s draw, that his side will need to see off Alvaro Arbeloa and co on the road to Budapest.