Arbeloa: Real Madrid not 'inferior' to Manchester City

Alvaro Arbeloa insisted that his Real Madrid team "shouldn't feel inferior" to Manchester City as they prepare to meet in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday. 

Madrid will face City for the 16th time in the Champions League (W5 D5 L5), twice as often as they have faced any other team in the competition (Bayern Munich - eight).

They have already squared off in the league phase in 2025-26, with Pep Guardiola's side coming out 2-1 winners at Estadio Bernabeu back on December 10. 

The European giants have gone up against each other in the knockout stages of UEFA's flagship competition in the past four campaigns, with Madrid often coming out on top. 

City have been eliminated from the Champions League by Madrid on four occasions, the only side to knock them out more than twice, though Los Blancos have struggled of late.

Arbeloa's side have won just two of their last four matches in all competitions, but the Madrid boss said that his team would go into the tie "looking [City] in the eyes."

"We're Real Madrid, we never feel less than anybody," Arbeloa said. "We shouldn't feel inferior to anybody.

"We all know the opponent very well, the club, the coach [Pep Guardiola], the players.

"They were champions two years ago. But we go into it with a lot of excitement. Tomorrow we'll play to win."

Arbeloa will, however, be without a string of first-team stars, with the likes of Jude Bellingham, Eder Militao, Alvaro Carreras and Rodrygo all unavailable to the Madrid boss. 

Another player who also looks set to miss out is Kylian Mbappe, who has enjoyed a sensational campaign with Los Blancos, particularly in the Champions League. 

Mbappe has already netted 13 times in the competition this term, meaning he is just four short of Cristiano Ronaldo's single-season record of 17.

The Frenchman's 14 direct goal involvements in the 2025-26 Champions League is also the most of any player, ahead of Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon (12).

He has also netted more Champions League goals against City than any other opponent (seven), which included a hat-trick in his most recent appearance against them. 

"[Mbappe] is much better," Arbeloa added on the striker's fitness. "As I've said, it's about going day by day, how he evolves, but this week has been very positive.

"He's much better, so we're expecting him back soon."

Arbeloa was part of the Madrid team that went up against Guardiola's Barcelona over a decade ago, and now faces the Spaniard for the first time as a coach.

Guardiola will take charge of his 190th Champions League match here, equalling Sir Alex Ferguson's total in the competition (190).

Following this fixture, Guardiola will only trail former Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti (218) on the list of most Champions League games by managers.

"[Pep] always has a surprise prepared," Arbeloa said.

"He's a coach who, as much as you watch his teams, will have something different prepared, with the variations he's capable of using.

"I'd be surprised if there weren't some change in their structure, how they want to attack, or a player who hasn't played recently."