In a rematch of last year’s unforgettable Champions League semi-final, 14-time winners Real Madrid and current holders Manchester City meet again, squaring off in Tuesday’s quarter-final first leg at the Bernabeu.

A little under 12 months ago, Pep Guardiola’s side beat Real 5-1 over two mathes to storm into the final, although nothing could separate the two titanic foes in the Spanish capital before City ran riot at the Etihad.

Real have plenty of wrongs to right after last year’s Etihad embarassment, but the hot streak of Carlo Ancelotti’s Blancos suggests that Tuesday’s hosts can rip the crown from the Citizens’ grasp.

After suffering Copa del Rey agony at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the middle of January, the La Liga champions elect have put together a 13-game unbeaten run across all competitions, including a two-legged victory over RB Leipzig in the Champions League last 16.

A 1-0 away victory proceded a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu in the second leg, sufficient to send Real through to the last eight for the fourth season sunning, and it has been 20 years since Los Blancos were last knocked out of the Champions League at this stage.

Since falling to Monaco’s superiority in 2003-04, Real have emerged victorious from their last 11 Champions League quarter-final ties, and the hosts reunite with Man City on the back of a three-game La Liga winning run, scoring 10 goals against Celta Vigo, Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao.

Enjoying a nine-day break since a straightforward 2-0 victory over the latter, keeping them eight points clear of Barcelona at the top of the table, Real now endeavour to extend their incredible run without defeat at home – standing at 26 games since Villarreal 3-2 win in April 2023 – if they are to arrive in Manchester with something to protect rather than pursue.

Willi Orban’s equaliser for RB Leipzig also represents the only goal that Real have conceded in their last five matches on their own turf across all competitions, but reigning champions Man City arrive in the capital having flaunted their attacking prowess on the road throughout 2024.

After going through the group stage without dropping a single point, City customarily made light work of Danish champions Copenhagen in the last 16 with a pair of 3-1 victories home and away, meaning Guardiola’s side have sensationally scored three goals in each of their eight Champions League matches so far in 2023-24.

In fatct, not since last year’s 1-1 Bernabeu draw have City failed to prevail in Europe’s top competition – enjoying the second-longest winning run in the history of the Champions League at 10 games – and their overall unbeaten streak in the tournament stands at 21 since a 3-1 defeat away to Real in 2022.

By beating Crystal Palace 4-2 in Saturday’s Premier League game, City remin on the coat-tails of title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool and arrive at Bernabeu having avoided defeat in each of their last 25 matches across all competitions, winning 11 of their last 12 away from Etihad.

Real Madrid vs. Man City Head to head

In the 12 previous meetings between these two teams, Real have claimed four victories while City have won five, and they have drawn in three. City have scored 22 goals and conceded 19 in the process.

• 07/08/2020
  Manchester City

  2

  Real Madrid

  1
  Champions League
• 26/04/2022
  Manchester City

  4

  Real Madrid

  3
  Champions League
• 04/05/2022
  Real Madrid

  E 3

  Manchester City

  1
  Champions League
• 09/05/2023
  Real Madrid

  1

  Manchester City

  1
  Champions League
• 17/05/2023
  Manchester City

  4

  Real Madrid

  0
  Champions League