Manchester City is set to face Real Madrid tonight in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, aiming for their ambitious goal of achieving a quadruple.
The team arrives at the Bernabeu in strong form, having won nine of their last 11 matches across competitions. They secured a spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a decisive 3–1 win over Newcastle United on Saturday. To keep his best players fresh for this important match, Pep Guardiola made ten changes to his lineup.
Earlier this season, City defeated Real Madrid 2–1 in the group stage and will be keen to avoid a third straight knockout exit against the team with the most Champions League titles. This match is significant for Pep Guardiola, as it marks his 190th Champions League match as a manager, tying him with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Manchester City team news
Guardiola’s squad is nearly at full strength but will miss two key defenders. Josko Gvardiol is out with a long-term tibial fracture, and Rico Lewis is sidelined with an ankle issue. Mateo Kovacic is back in training after ankle surgery but is not yet ready to play.
With this in mind, City has important choices to make in their attack. Erling Haaland is expected to start, but Omar Marmoush, who scored twice against Newcastle, and Rayan Cherki are also in contention.
Gianluigi Donnarumma will be in goal, supported by a defense that likely includes Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi. Matheus Nunes is set to play right-back, taking on the challenge of marking VinÃcius Júnior. In midfield, Rodri will lead alongside Nico O’Reilly and captain Bernardo Silva.
Haaland comes into the match with 56 goals in 56 Champions League matches and has netted 10 times in his last 10 games versus Spanish teams. Phil Foden is also looking to regain his top form after his manager encouraged him to showcase his talent in the attacking phase.
Manchester City predicted lineup
Manchester City Predicted XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Bernardo, Rodri, O’Reilly; Semenyo, Haaland, Marmoush
When will the match kick off?
The match will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, with the kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT.
How to watch Real Madrid vs Man City?
In the UK, the match will be available live on TNT Sports and can also be streamed on discovery+.
Read more- FA Cup quarter-final draw, dates and TV channel
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