Pep Guardiola, known as the architect behind Manchester City’s recent success, is widely regarded as the world’s best manager due to his tactical prowess and strategic mind games before crucial matches. Since his arrival in 2016, Guardiola has steered the team to numerous trophies, including last year’s Champions League title.
Once again, they are favored to win the UCL this year. However, standing in their way is a formidable opponent. True to form, Guardiola has already started his pre-match rituals, engaging in mind games by making well-timed comments aimed at the opposition.
Pep Guardiola praises Real Madrid
The draw for the Champions league quarter finals took place on 15 March, which saw a mighty fixture coming up. Manchester City will once again be facing Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter final. However, ahead of the fixture, Pep Guardiola didn’t hesitate to heap praises for the team in white
Instead of flaunting his own team’s strength, Pep Guardiola acknowledged Real Madrid’s legacy by stating them as the “Kings of the Champions league.” During the interview he said, “We don’t have another option. It looks like a little bit of a tradition, three years in a row playing the kings of the competition.”
Both teams faced each other in the previous two UCL campaigns, with Manchester City emerging victorious after defeating Real Madrid in the 2021/22 campaign, while City had to bow down to the kings of the Champions League in the semis during the 2020/21 season.
On one hand, Real Madrid, with 14 Champions League titles, stand ready to reclaim the throne, while City will be going in the hopes of defending their first ever Champions league trophy. It would be pretty exciting to see who will come out as an undisputed winner.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid head-to-head in UCL
The clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City has been one of the most anticipated matches in recent years. The fixture itself has become a Champions league rivalry that never disappoints its crowd.
The two powerhouse teams have faced each other 10 times in the Champions League. In those 10 meetings Manchester City has won 4 wins while Madrid is just behind with 3 wins whereas in the remaining 3 matches the score line remained the same.
Let’s take a glance over their previous six encounters:
- Manchester City- 4 : 0 -Real Madrid( Champions League Semi-final 2nd leg, 2022/23)
- Real Madrid- 1 : 1 -Manchester City( Champions League Semi-final 1st leg, 2022/23)
- Real Madrid- 3 : 1 -Manchester City( Champions League Semi-final 2nd leg, 2021/22)
- Manchester City- 4 : 3 -Real Madrid( Champions League Semi-final 1st leg, 2021/22)
- Manchester City- 2 : 1 -Real Madrid( Champions League RO16 2nd leg, 2019/20)
- Real Madrid- 1 : 2 -Manchester City( Champions League RO16 1st leg, 2019/20)
The fixture between the two teams has given the fans some best moments. Such as the remarkable comeback by Madrid scoring 2 goals in the injury time in the 2021/22 Semi final and then winning the match on aggregate after extra time. Another one was the long range precise shooting of Kevin De Bruyne at Bernabeu last season which was followed by a thrashing of the Los Blancos at the Etihad in the second Leg.
While Real Madrid sit at the top of La Liga, Manchester city remains at the third position in the Premier League just 2 points behind league leaders Arsenal. With Both the teams arriving with huge confidence, the fans await an intense matchup between Pep Guardiola and Carlos Ancelotti on the biggest stage of club football.
Drop your views and tell us which team will be the one advancing to the Semis.
