The last two Champions League winners, Manchester City and Real Madrid, are set to clash in a monumental first-leg encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. Both sides are fighting to secure their place in the last 16 of the 2024-25 edition, with the stakes higher than ever.
City’s Struggles in Europe
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, who conquered Europe in 2023, find themselves far from their dominant form of previous campaigns. The reigning champions faced an uphill battle in the league phase this season, securing just two wins in their first seven matches. A dramatic 3-1 comeback victory over Club Brugge on the final matchday narrowly saved them from an embarrassing early exit, ensuring a spot in the top 24.
However, their European struggles have carried over into domestic competitions. Following a humiliating 5-1 Premier League loss to Arsenal, City barely edged past third-tier Leyton Orient with a 2-1 win in the FA Cup on Saturday. Despite their inconsistency, City’s recent home form offers some solace. They have won all four of their Etihad fixtures in 2025, scoring at least three goals in each game. A fifth consecutive home win across all competitions would mark their best run since 2023.
Real Madrid’s European Journey
Similarly, defending champions Real Madrid have endured a challenging league phase. Carlo Ancelotti’s men suffered three defeats in their first five games before finishing strongly with wins over Atalanta, Red Bull Salzburg, and Brest. Despite their resurgence, they fell just one point short of automatic qualification for the last 16—a rare underachievement for the 15-time European champions.
Domestically, Real Madrid have experienced mixed fortunes, with a win, a draw, and a loss in their last three outings. Their most recent La Liga clash ended in a controversial 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid, where a debatable Julian Alvarez penalty was canceled out by a Kylian Mbappe equalizer. Despite the draw, Los Blancos remain atop the La Liga table, narrowly ahead of city rivals Atletico.
Tuesday’s showdown marks the fourth consecutive Champions League season where Manchester City and Real Madrid face off. The Spanish giants eliminated City on penalties in last year’s tournament, a result that Guardiola’s side will undoubtedly aim to avenge.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Manchester City’s injury woes deepened on Saturday as Nico Gonzalez suffered an injury during his debut. He joins a growing list of doubtful players, including Oscar Bobb, Nathan Ake, Jeremy Doku, and goalkeeper Ederson. Long-term absentee Rodri remains sidelined with an ACL injury. Kevin De Bruyne, who scored the winner against Leyton Orient, is expected to return to the starting XI. The Belgian star is chasing a Champions League milestone, as his next goal or assist against Real Madrid will make him the player with the most goal contributions against the Spanish giants in the competition’s history.
For Real Madrid, a defensive crisis looms large. Lucas Vazquez is the latest addition to a list of sidelined players that includes Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, and David Alaba. Aurelien Tchouameni is set to deputize in central defense alongside youngster Raul Asencio. Additionally, Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, Endrick, and Tchouameni are one booking away from suspension, as is head coach Carlo Ancelotti. Despite these concerns, Ancelotti is expected to field his strongest available XI.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester City: Ederson; Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Silva, Kovacic; Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland.
Real Madrid: Courtois; Valverde, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy; Camavinga, Modric; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Mbappe.
Prediction: Real Madrid to Seize the Advantage
Manchester City’s recent struggles and Real Madrid’s European pedigree make for an intriguing contest. While City’s firepower at home cannot be ignored, Real Madrid’s resilience in Europe could prove decisive. Ancelotti’s side, despite their defensive frailties, are tipped to return to Madrid with a crucial first-leg advantage.
Prediction: Manchester City 1-3 Real Madrid.
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