Real Madrid set to face Manchester City yet again in blockbuster tie for Champions League Round of 16 spot

Real Madrid are set to face off Manchester City once again in the UCL play-off stages, in an attempt to make it through to the round of 16.

Real Madrid set to face Manchester City yet again in blockbuster tie for Champions League Round of 16 spot

Real Madrid and Manchester City will face each other in the UCL play-offs next month. (via Sky Sports)

The reigning UCL champions Real Madrid, are set to face Manchester City once again in the play-off round, to secure a place in the UCL last-16. It will be a repeat of last season’s thrilling quarter-final encounter between the two clubs.

Carlo Ancelotti‘s side failed to make it into the UCL last 16 directly. The club ended in the 11th position on the newly revamped 36-team UCL table. Real Madrid accumulated 15 points from eight matches, winning five out of those. By far the most successful club in the competition’s history, Los Blancos will now have to navigate a two-legged play-off round to reach the round of 16.

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To make matters worse, Real Madrid will be up against Pep Guardiola-led Manchester City, who have endured a difficult spell this season as well. In the play-offs draw that was conducted, Los Blancos were set to face off, either against Man City or Celtic. The Scottish Premiership side shall instead, face Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in the play-offs next month.

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Man City and Real Madrid will now be facing each other in the UCL for a fourth successive season. Both the teams have faced each other 12 times in the competition. City hold an upper hand with four wins, compared to Real’s three. Moreover, a defeat to Man City would end the 15-time UCL winners’ streak of having made it to the last-16 in each of the last 26 editions of the tournament.

Last time these two teams met in the quarter-finals, Real Madrid emerged victorious, winning 4-3 on penalties. The first leg will take place at the Etihad stadium next month, followed by the second leg at the Bernabeu.

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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti makes ‘no rest’ claim as fixtures pile up for the club

Carlo Ancelotti hit out at the bloated football schedule this season, amid Real Madrid’s struggles with fitness and consistency. Real Madrid have a total of 17 league matches scheduled in the coming months, alongside UCL and Copa del Rey fixtures.

Carlo Ancelotti Real Madrid no rest
Carlo Ancelotti expressed frustration with Real Madrid’s bloated schedule, claiming that the players won’t get rest. (via Managing Madrid)

The new UCL league stage format has been criticized by manager Carlo Ancelotti. It comes after two additional play-off fixtures have been added to their packed schedule. He offered a sharp response to the team’s preparedness. Ancelotti stated that the players would get very little time to rest. He stressed on the need to remain motivated, as well as the necessity of rotation in the side.

There is no preparation time or rest. When you have three days in between games, there’s no preparation. There’s recovery, video and match. And again. And again.

Carlo Ancelotti on Real Madrid’s schedule (via AS Diario)

Nonetheless, Real Madrid next face relegation-battling Espanyol, with Ancelotti expected to make changes in the lineup. He might rest a few first time stars, including Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Antonio Rudiger.