Man City vs Real Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Manchester City are looking to finish their season with a flourish but continue to underperform ahead of facing 15-team European champions Real Madrid in this knockout playoff round tie.

Kick-off date/time: Tuesday 11th February, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime / US – Paramount+

Man City Preview: Pressure on Pep

Manchester City have been knocked out of the title race in the Premier League, were knocked out early in the EFL Cup and only squeezed through the league phase of the UEFA Champions League in the final match day with a come from behind win against Club Brugge.

They also needed to come from behind against third-tier Leyton Orient at the weekend as they defeated the O’s by two goals to one in the fourth round of the FA Cup. They have had some improved results in 2025 but performances remain underwhelming.

Real Madrid Preview: Los Blancos’ competition

Carlo Ancelotti’s defending champions remain at the top-of-the-table in a tight La Liga title race as Los Blancos shared a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the capital city derby at the Bernabeu at the weekend in a game where Kylian Mbappe cancelled out Julian Alvarez’ first-half opener.

That backed up a 1-0 defeat to struggling Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium and a last-gasp winner against Leganes in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey. They are enduring yet another patchy run of form this year as they travel to Manchester this week.

Man City Team News: Nico a doubt

Nico Gonzalez joined Manchester City on the final day of the winter transfer window but was forced off through injury on debut against Leyton Orient. He was brought in as Rodri’s cover in the defensive midfield role but the Spaniard also remains sidelined for City.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan; Silva, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland

Unavailable: Rodri (Injured)

Questionable: Ederson (Injured), Ake (Injured), Nico (Injured), Doku (Injured)

Real Madrid Team News: Defensive injuries

Real Madrid are dealing with several defensive injuries ahead of the trip to the Etihad with experienced David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger sidelined alongside club captain Dani Carvajal, Brazil international Eder Militao and the versatile Lucas Vazquez.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Valverde, Tchouameni, Asencio, Garcia; Modric, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe

Unavailable: Alaba (Injured), Militao (Injured), Rudiger (Injured), Carvajal (Injured), Vazquez (Injured)

Questionable: Camavinga (Injured)

Key Stats

This is the sixth UEFA Champions League knockout phase tie between these team teams. They are meeting in the knockout phase for the fourth successive season. Their most recent encounter in the 2023/24 quarter-finals was settled by a penalty shoot-out with Real Madrid progressing to the semi-finals.
This is Man. City’s 12th successive season in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase.
Man. City have lost only one of their last 14 UEFA competition matches against Spanish teams (W8 D5).
Man. City have won seven and drawn two of their last nine UEFA competition matches at home against Spanish teams, since a 2-1 defeat against Barcelona in February 2015.
Man. City have lost only one of their last eight UEFA Champions League matches against Real Madrid (W4 D3).
Man. City are unbeaten in their last 34 UEFA Champions League matches in their own stadium (W29 D5), since a 2-1 loss against Lyon on Matchday 1 in 2018/19.
Man. City are unbeaten in the first leg of their last 12 UEFA competition two-legged ties (W9 D3). The last time they lost in the first leg was against Tottenham in the quarter-finals in April 2019 (0-1 a)
Man. City have lost only two of their last 61 home matches in all competitions.
Man. City have scored three or more goals in 12 of their last 14 UEFA Champions League matches at home.
Kevin De Bruyne has scored in four of his last seven appearances against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
Phil Foden is set to make his 60th appearance in the UEFA Champions League proper. He would become the youngest English player to reach the landmark at the age of 24 years and 259 days, beating the record held by Wayne Rooney (25y 170d).
Real Madrid are participating in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase for a 28th successive season.
Real Madrid have lost only one of their last ten UEFA Champions League knockout phase matches against English teams (W6 D3).
Real Madrid are without a win in their last five UEFA Champions League matches against English teams (D2 L3).
Real Madrid have won only three of their last 12 UEFA competition matches away from home against English teams (D3 L6).
Real Madrid have won their last three UEFA Champions League matches.
Real Madrid have lost the first leg in only three of their last 21 UEFA competition two-legged ties (W13 D5).
Real Madrid have scored at least one goal in the first leg in 19 of their last 20 UEFA competition two-legged ties.
Real Madrid have won a total of 299 European Cup/UEFA Champions League matches (all rounds). They could become the first team to reach the landmark of 300 wins.
Rodrygo scored twice in both of Real Madrid’s last two UEFA Champions League matches.
Rodrygo scored in both legs of Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie last season.

Man City vs Real Madrid Prediction

This has been a clash played in the knockout stages in three of the last four seasons with the team who came through the knockout tie between these two going on to win the competition in each of the last two seasons. Manchester City come into this one on the back of a really difficult campaign amid the impending announcement of their punishment for issues with FFP and PSR in the Premier League. On the pitch things have appeared confused and frustrating with a clear stagnation. They face a Real Madrid side that had tactical difficulties early on but the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham have rediscovered their form and have found a cohesive fluency going forward. They have key defensive injuries but Madrid just appear simply better than their opponents at the moment so it may be a close contest but an away win remains likeliest.

Man City vs Real Madrid Tip: Real Madrid to win & both teams to score