Real Madrid's head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has suggested that Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, might be underplaying his team's chances of advancing to the Champions League last 16. This statement comes as the two football giants prepare to face off at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday, February 19, at 9 PM local time (20:00 GMT). While Real Madrid currently holds a narrow 3-2 lead over City, both teams have a storied history in these high-stakes matches.
The rivalry between Real Madrid and Manchester City has been intense, with the teams meeting 16 times in the past. Real Madrid has claimed victory in six of these encounters, while Manchester City has won five. Despite their competitive record, Guardiola downplayed his team's chances, stating that Manchester City has only a 1-percent chance of knocking out the record 15-time European Cup winners. Nevertheless, the match promises to be a thrilling event, as both teams vie for supremacy in Europe's premier football competition.
Real Madrid enters the match with some advantages and challenges. They lead 3-2 on aggregate, but Manchester City is not simply making up the numbers. The English side has shown resilience against Madrid, most notably securing a 2-1 win in their last successful trip to the Spanish capital in 2020. However, this season has been less favorable for City, as they currently sit fourth in the Premier League standings.
One of the key storylines leading into the match is player availability. Jude Bellingham's recent red card for dissent in a 1-1 draw against Osasuna in LaLiga will not affect his participation in the Champions League. Federico Valverde expressed his support for Bellingham, appreciating his passion and determination on the field.
"What I want is players who leave their soul out on the pitch, in this case with Jude in the last game, I always want him to be like that," – Federico Valverde.
"Jude is a player who shows character, who always wants to win, who always wants to fight. This time he got a red card, but I like that he’s giving everything, his spikiness … we have to stay united as a team." – Federico Valverde.
For Real Madrid, the news conference ahead of the game confirmed that defender Antonio Rudiger is fit to start after recovering from injury. Conversely, Lucas Vazquez will be available only as a substitute due to his fitness issues. On City's side, star striker Erling Haaland is expected to play despite receiving a heavy blow during their recent victory over Newcastle.
Ancelotti's comments highlighted the importance of refereeing quality in European competitions.
“Statistics speak for themselves, in Europe, there’s less controversy in this sense, there are less VAR interventions,” – Carlo Ancelotti.
“The VAR only intervenes when it’s necessary, and usually, the Champions League features the best referees from each country, so the quality is very high in this sense.” – Carlo Ancelotti.
Guardiola also reflected on his team's strategy and their previous performances against Real Madrid.
“We think we have a small advantage that we have to take advantage of, and try to play the same game we set up in the first leg, which went well.” – Pep Guardiola.
