The Real Deal in the Champions League

This week, one of the newest rivalries in the Champions League returns, with Real Madrid looking to capitalize on its prolonged layoff before tomorrow’s quarterfinal matchup with Manchester City.

Entering his record-breaking 200th Champions League match, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has had eight full days to get his team ready for their third consecutive meeting with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the tournament’s knockout stages.

Guardiola was not pleased with the significant disparity in the teams’ preparation times before City’s Premier League match on Saturday against Crystal Palace.

Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in their most recent La Liga game on March 31. Due to the Copa del Rey being scheduled for this past weekend, Madrid was exempt from playing.

del Rey ultimate.

Madrid, which hasn’t lost in 27 consecutive games across all competitions since last April, upset City two seasons ago with a late comeback in the second leg of the semifinals at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

However, City defeated Madrid in the previous season, winning the second leg of the semifinals at home with a score of 4-0. After defeating their opponents, both teams went on to win the Champions League championship.

In the past four games between the two teams, 17 goals have been scored. After this season’s quarterfinals, they will have met each other twelve times in twelve years. There have been four victories for City, three for Madrid, and three ties so far. For the fourth meeting in a row, both clubs are attempting to advance to the Champions League semifinals.

With Jude Bellingham joining the team this season, Ancelotti will attempt to capture his third Champions League championship with Madrid. The youthful England midfielder, who joined Borussia Dortmund at a young age, has never participated in Premier League action; yet, he has met Man City four times and scored twice against the English team.