Real Madrid will aim to strike first at the Santiago Bernabéu, seeking a strong foothold before the return leg at the Etihad Stadium.
The matchup between Real Madrid and Manchester City takes place this Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabéu for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals, a clash that has the football world watching closely.
Real Madrid, guided by Carlo Ancelotti, earned their spot by sweeping Chelsea 4-0 on aggregate, while Pep Guardiola’s crew eliminated Bayern Munich with a 4-1 scoreline. The defending champions from Madrid have a chance to slow a rival that has already triumphed over them in last season’s semifinal on the same path toward Turin for the challenge at the Etihad Stadium.
On the domestic front, Madrid arrive buoyed by a Copa del Rey triumph last weekend over Osasuna. In La Liga, they sit third with 68 points, trailing leader Barcelona by 14. Manchester City, meanwhile, are in a tight race for the Premier League title with Arsenal, leading by a single point with four games remaining in the campaign.
The history between the two clubs at the Bernabéu
Recent notes:
- Real Madrid and Manchester City meet for the ninth time in European competition, each side having won three of the previous eight with two draws. City have won three of their last four matches, but their most recent visit to Madrid resulted in a 3-1 defeat in last year’s semifinal second leg.
- Manchester City could become the first English club to beat Real Madrid twice across Champions League tie legs, a feat that would echo their February 2020 victory (2-1 in Madrid). English teams have claimed just four of 18 away wins against Real Madrid in European competition, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and City each winning once historically on the road.
- In the last four Champions League games for Real Madrid and City combined, 17 goals were scored, an average of just over four per match. City have netted 31 goals in those games, while Real Madrid have 17, with Madrid responsible for 47% of their shots on target compared to City’s 29%.
- Guardiola has faced Real Madrid numerous times in all competitions, with five losses in 21 meetings. Since leaving Barcelona, he has entered a lean period against Madrid, losing three of six clashes after a strong record with Barça (nine wins, four draws).
- Real Madrid have three consecutive clean sheets in the Champions League, a run totaling 346 minutes without conceding since Mohamed Salah’s goal at Anfield in the round of 16.
- This marks Pep Guardiola’s 10th Champions League semifinal. The City boss has exited in six of the previous nine semifinals in this competition, a figure that stands out in the modern era.
- According to Opta, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has prevented 9.9 goals in the Champions League since the start of last season, the best record in that span. Ederson, City’s keeper, conceded 2.3 more goals than expected in the same timeframe.
- Vinícius Júnior has either scored or assisted in each of his last 10 Champions League appearances for Real Madrid, a streak rivaling the longest in the competition’s recent history.
- Erling Haaland has delivered 35 goals in 27 Champions League appearances, boasting a minutes-per-goal ratio that ranks among the best in the competition’s history.
- Midfield maestros Toni Kroos of Real Madrid (84) and Rodri of Manchester City (62) are the leaders in passes that break lines in the Champions League this season, with Kroos linking 25 times to Vinícius Júnior, the most frequent one-to-one connection this term.
Viewership options for the Madrid City showdown include ESPN and Fox Sports 1, with coverage based on regional cable packages:
ESPN
- VTR: 48 (SD) (Stgo) – 843 (HD)
- DTV: 621 (SD) – 1620 (HD)
- ENTEL: 212 (HD)
- BRIGHT: 174 (SD) – 474 (HD)
- GTD/TELSUR: 84 (SD)
- MOVISTAR: 480 (SD) – 884 (HD)
- YOU SEE: 508 (SD)
- ZAP: 90 (HD)
Fox Sports 1
- VCR: 166 (SD) – 860 (HD)
- DTV: 604 (SD) – 1604 (SD)
- ENTEL: 241 (HD)
- BRIGHT: 178 (SD) – 478 (HD)
- GTD/TELSUR: 70 (SD) – 846 (HD)
- MOVISTAR: 485 (SD) – 889 (HD)
- YOU SEE: 518 (SD)
- ZAP: 100 (HD)
Online viewing is possible via Star+, which offers flexible subscription options. Access is available on multiple devices, including televisions, computers, mobile devices, tablets, and game consoles. Prospective subscribers can visit starplus com to begin the service.