Pep showdown as Real Madrid draw Man City in Champions League last 16
Real Madrid will play Man City in the Champions League last-16 as they look to go one stage beyond last season's disappointing crash out against Ajax.
Real Madrid have drawn Man City in the last 16 of the Champions League, as Zinedine Zidane's side go head to head with old Barcelona foe, Pep Guardiola.
Los Blancos unexpectedly fell at the last-16 stage following Ajax's stunning second-leg comeback at the Santiago Bernabéu last season and will look to avoid repeating another slip up against the English champions.
Watch: Roncero in raptures as Real draw Pep's City
Having finished second in their group behind PSG, Madrid found themselves in Pot 2 and as such were set to face tougher Pot 1 opposition in the last 16. City will prove to be a stern test for Madrid but have been far from their best this season.
The last-16 first legs will be played on 18, 19, 25 and 26 February, with the second legs scheduled for 10, 11, 17 and 18 March.
Real Madrid vs Man City: past UCL results
This will be the third time that Madrid have come up against City in the Champions League, and so far Los Blancos are unbeaten against the English club.
Madrid beat City 3-2 at home before a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium in the 2012/13 group stages.
In 2016, the two met again at the semi-finals stages, playing out a 0-0 draw in the first leg at the Etihad. In the second leg at the Bernabéu, Fernando scored the lone goal for the hosts to send them through to the final.
This will be the first time Pep Guardiola meets Real Madrid as Manchester City coach.
Guardiola's record against Real Madrid in the Champions League
Guardiola has met Real Madrid in the Champions League on two occasions in the past, once each with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, with his current record standing at one win, one draw and two defeats.
In 2011 the Clásico was played out at the semi-final stages of Europe’s premier club competition, with Pep’s men coming out on top. Barcelona ran out 2-0 winners in the first leg at the Bernabéu before the two played out a 1-1 draw in the second leg at Camp Nou. Winning 3-1 on aggregate, El Blaugrana went on to the final, where they beat Manchester United 3-1.
In 2014, Pep once again met Madrid in the semi-finals, this time with Bayern Munich, who lost both games 5-0 on aggregate. Los Blancos beat the German club 1-0 at home, before going on to thrash them 4-0 in front of a stunned crowd at the Allianz Arena. Madrid met local rivals Atlético Madrid in the final, winning 4-1 to secure their 10th European title.
Five years on and Madrid are now chasing a 14th title and fourth under Zinedine Zidane. But first they must overcome Guardiola’s Man City, who themselves are thirsty for glory in the Champions League having yet to reach the final of competition since the beginning of their current golden era.