How to watch Manchester City vs Real Madrid in the U.S. on TV and stream online

In today’s last-16 second leg against Real Madrid, Manchester City must pull off a seldom-achieved Champions League feat if they are to halt Los Blancos’ pursuit of a record-extending 16th European title.

Chasing their second continental crown, City trail 3-0 after last Wednesday’s first leg in Spain, where Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde plundered a stunning first-half hat-trick for the hosts.

In the Champions League’s 34-year history, only four two-legged knockout ties have seen a team qualify for the next round after losing the first leg by three goals or more.

What time is Manchester City vs Real Madrid?

Manchester City host Real Madrid today, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, with kickoff at the Etihad Stadium scheduled for 8:00 p.m. local time (4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT).

How can I watch Manchester City vs Real Madrid in the U.S.?

Viewers in the United States will be able to tune in to the last-16 second leg on Paramount+ and DAZN.

You can also follow live-text coverage of City vs Madrid right here at AS USA. Calum Roche will be building up to the game from about 90 minutes ahead of kickoff, before talking you through all the action at the Etihad.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Champions League preview

With their Premier League title hopes also in the balance - Saturday’s draw at West Ham left them nine points off the top, albeit with a game in hand - City require a statistically unlikely turnaround to stay alive in Europe. Indeed, the soccer-stats specialists Opta give Guardiola’s men only a 13.4% chance of reaching the quarterfinals at Madrid’s expense.

Opta note, moreover, that the handful of three-goal comebacks seen so far in Champions League history represent just 7.8% of the 51 knockout ties that have witnessed such one-sided first legs.

And in his illustrious coaching career, City boss Pep Guardiola is yet to oversee a successful Champions League fightback from a three-goal margin. He has twice been eliminated after 3-0 opening-leg losses: with Bayern Munich against Barcelona in the 2014/15 semifinals, and with City against Liverpool in the 2017/18 quarterfinals.

Speaking at the weekend, however, a defiant Guardiola told his players to “stay home” if they don’t believe they can upset the odds to progress. “We have to try,” he said. “What do we have to lose?”

Guardiola reiterated this message in his prematch press conference on Monday, urging his team to “try, try [and] don’t give up”. He also conceded, though, that City need a “perfect” performance.

Meanwhile, Madrid have flown to Manchester with two major stars back in their squad. Striker Kylian Mbappé has returned to the fold after missing Los Blancos’ last five games with a knee injury, while midfielder Jude Bellingham has travelled with the team as he finalizes his recovery from a hamstring issue that has sidelined him since Feb. 1.

However, boss Álvaro Arbeloa has told reporters that today’s game at the Etihad will come too soon for Bellingham, who has sat out nine straight Madrid matches. “He won’t be available,” Arbeloa said. “I’m happy to see him getting closer to returning – he’s going to be one of the leaders and it’s important that he’s here with us."

In their 17th all-time meeting with City, Madrid are bidding to knock the Premier League club out of the Champions League for the second year in a row. In the knockout-phase playoffs last season, Los Merengues won 3-2 at the Etihad, on their way to a 6-3 aggregate triumph.

Video - City and Madrid sick of the sight of each other?

Manchester City vs Real Madrid - form guide:

Manchester City: DLWDW

• Mar. 14: West Ham 1-1 Man City, EPL
• Mar. 11: Real Madrid 3-0 Man City, UCL
• Mar. 7: Newcastle United 1-3 Man City, FA Cup
• Mar. 4: Man City 2-2 Nottingham Forest, EPL
• Feb. 28: Leeds United 0-1 Man City, EPL

Real Madrid: WWWLW

• Mar. 14: Real Madrid 4-1 Elche, LaLiga
• Mar. 11: Real Madrid 3-0 Man City, UCL
• Mar. 6: Celta Vigo 1-2 Real Madrid, LaLiga
• Mar. 2: Real Madrid 0-1 Getafe, LaLiga
• Feb. 25: Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica, UCL

Who will Madrid or City play in the quarterfinals?

Madrid and City are chasing a quarterfinal matchup with the winner of Bayern Munich vs Atalanta’s round-of-16 tie. That’s almost certain to be Bayern: the Germans hold a 6-1 lead ahead of their second leg against the Italians, which takes place at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

2025/26 UCL round of 16 - second-leg schedule:

Tuesday, March 17

• 1:45 p.m. ET: Sporting CP vs Bodø/Glimt (agg: 0-3)
• 4:00 p.m. ET: Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen (agg: 1-1)
• 4:00 p.m. ET: Chelsea vs PSG (agg: 2-5)
• 4:00 p.m. ET: Manchester City vs Real Madrid (agg: 0-3)

Wednesday, March 18

• 1:45 p.m. ET: Barcelona vs Newcastle United (agg: 1-1)
• 4:00 p.m. ET: Bayern Munich vs Atalanta (agg: 6-1)
• 4:00 p.m. ET: Liverpool vs Galatasaray (agg: 0-1)
• 4:00 p.m. ET: Tottenham vs Atlético Madrid (agg: 2-5)

Champions League knockout-phase bracket:

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