Manchester City Faces Real Madrid in Champions League Derby

Manchester City and Real Madrid will face each other in the Champions League knockout playoff, marking the fourth consecutive season they have met in this stage of the competition. Both teams struggled in the league phase, finishing outside the top 8, which necessitated this playoff matchup to secure a place in the round of 16. City manager Pep Guardiola described the rivalry as feeling 'like a derby' and acknowledged the challenges of their congested schedule, with seven fixtures in 24 days ahead of them. He expressed concerns over the timing of matches, particularly with a crucial game against Newcastle sandwiched between the Champions League legs. The upcoming playoff holds significant stakes, as the winner has gone on to win the tournament in previous years. The first leg will take place at City, followed by the return match at the Bernabeu in just over two weeks.