Manchester City vs Real Madrid head-to-head: Is City getting sick of the sight of Madrid?
There has been little to separate them in the Champions League overall, but Madrid have generally got the better of City when it has mattered most.
Manchester City play Real Madrid in the second leg of the 2025-26 Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday, with the two teams facing each other in the knockout stages for the fifth straight season.
Pep Guardiola’s side have a mountain to climb if they are to reach the semifinals, with Los Blancos securing a commanding 3-0 win in the first leg thanks to Fede Valverde’s hat trick.
The winner of the Madrid-City tie wil almost certainly take on Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals. The duo are on the silver side of the draw, which also contains PSG, Chelsea and Liverpool, potential opponents in the semifinals.
A rivalry that has grown quickly in Europe
Prior to the 2012-13 season, Real Madrid and Manchester City had never played each other. Since September 2012, however, they have met 16 times, with 12 of those meetings coming since February 2020.
The two clubs may have very different histories, with the LaLiga giants having been crowned European champions 15 times and the Sky Blues just once. But there has been little to separate them since City joined the European elite in the 2010s.
Of the previous 15 meetings, Madrid have edged ahead with six victories compared to City’s five, with five draws.
Results from recent Champions League meetings
2025-26 round of 16
Real Madrid 3-0 Manchester City
2025-26 league phase
Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City
2024-25 knockout phase playoffs, Real Madrid win 6-3 on aggregate
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
Manchester City 2-3 Real Madrid
2023-24 quarterfinals, Real Madrid win on penalties
Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid
Real Madrid 3-3 Manchester City
2022-23 semifinals, Manchester City win 5-1 on aggregate
Manchester City 4-0 Real Madrid
Real Madrid 1-1 Manchester City
2021-22 semifinals, Real Madrid win 6-5 on aggregate
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
Manchester City 4-3 Real Madrid
2019-20 round of 16, Manchester City win 4-2 on aggregate
Manchester City 2-1 Real Madrid
Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City
2015-16 semifinals, Real Madrid win 1-0 on aggregate
Real Madrid 1-0 Manchester City
Manchester City 0-0 Real Madrid
2012-13 group stage
Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid
Real Madrid 3-2 Manchester City
Madrid on top when it matters most
The most high-stakes matchups have come in the Champions League semifinals, where they have met three times. Madrid narrowly progressed to the final twice, while City convincingly defeated the Spaniards on the way to their only victory in the tournament in 2023.
Crucially, of the six two-legged knockout ties, Madrid have the upper hand, winning four, including one on penalties, and losing two. Given the size of their first-leg lead, it would be a huge surprise if the Spaniards don’t make it five out of seven at the Etihad on Tuesday.
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment