UCL showdown: RM vs. Man City head-to-head, injuries, team news and form

Real Madrid has little time to dwell on their loss to Celta before hosting Manchester City tonight at the Santiago Bernabéu. This is the defining European clash of our era, the most frequent meeting between the top contenders for the Champions League, even if neither team is currently the favorite.

Madrid has lifted two of the last four Champions League trophies, City has won one, and reached the 2021 final only to lose to Chelsea.

Real Madrid’s upper hand over City

These two teams meet with remarkable regularity. Tonight marks the fifth consecutive season Madrid and City face off, and the sixth meeting in the last seven campaigns.

Recent history favors the Spanish side: Madrid won in the 2021-22 semifinals, the 2023-24 quarterfinals, and last season’s playoff round, while City’s wins came in the 2020-21 round of 16 and the 2022-23 semifinals, which sent them to their first Champions League final.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City: injury report

Both squads are dealing with key absences, particularly Madrid. Coach Xabi Alonso is missing six defenders, including both right-backs (Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal) and his top center-backs (Éder Militão and Huijsen). Midfielders Eduardo Camavinga and likely Kylian Mbappé are also out due to injury.

City will be without John Stones in defense and midfielders Mateo Kovacic and Rodrigo.

Real Madrid in focus

Injuries have hit Madrid hard, especially in defense. Six of their ten defenders are sidelined: Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Militão, David Alaba, Huijsen, and Ferland Mendy. Federico Valverde is expected to fill in at right-back once again.

Xabi Alonso held off on releasing the squad list, waiting to see if Mbappé can play. Huijsen and Camavinga are confirmed out.

With so many absences, Alonso will turn to the academy. AS has learned that Jorge Cestero (midfielder), Joan Martínez (center-back), and Víctor Valdepeñas (center-back) have been called up, with David Jiménez also in consideration at right-back.

Madrid has been solid at the Bernabéu in the Champions League this season, winning both home games against Marseille and Juventus, scoring three goals and conceding just one.

Manchester City in focus

City does not have as many absences, but the missing players are crucial. Stones, Kovacic, and Rodrigo will not travel.

Madrid is the Spanish team City has faced most frequently, with tonight marking their 15th meeting, far ahead of Barcelona, which they’ve met only six times.

City has visited Madrid six times in the last seven seasons, with little success: one win, two draws, and four losses at the Bernabéu.

Last season, Madrid won their playoff clash. This campaign, both teams are in contention to finish in the top eight and qualify directly for the round of 16.

Pep Guardiola’s side is 12th with 10 points from 15, two points behind sixth-placed Madrid.