Real Madrid desperate to avoid unwanted Champions League first against Manchester City

As the most successful club in the history of the Champions League, Real Madrid would not have anticipated failing to qualify directly for the round of 16 of the ‘new’ UCL.

To make matters worse, in theory, they were drawn to face Manchester City in the playoff round. However, the LaLiga giants were able to take advantage of the turmoil Pep Guardiola’s team currently finds itself in by winning the first leg 3-2 in England last week. Madrid will now expect to finish the job at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday (February 19).

Speaking ahead of the game, Guardiola mischievously gave his team a “1% chance” of winning in the Spanish capital and qualifying for the last 16, a view counterpart Carlo Ancelotti dismissed.

But although they have been woefully out of sorts of late, a team containing Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Ederson is surely still capable of winning a one-off game against any opponent.

How Manchester City can help Real Madrid make unwanted history

City must win by two clear goals at the Bernabéu to progress, or record a one-goal victory and prevail in a penalty shootout. If that were to happen, Real Madrid would register an unwanted first.

It would be the first time in 33 years since the Champions League was rebranded, ahead of the 1992/23 season, that Madrid have qualified for the tournament and not reached the round of 16. Until now, they’ve made it 27 times out of 27.

The Spanish giants have featured in the round of 16 (and usually later stages) in each of the last 26 editions of the Champions League. The last time they didn’t came in the 1996/1997 season, when they weren’t involved in European competition after only finishing sixth in LaLiga the previous year.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.