Real Madrid vs Man City LIVE Champions League updates

ShareCommentsBySimon BajkowskiChief Manchester City WriterAlex JamesContent EditorRoss JacksonUpdated15:17, 11 MAR 2026BookmarkManchester City will resume their battle with Real Madrid this evening when the two teams meet at the Bernabeu.

City and Real have already met this season, with goals from Nico O'Reilly and Erling Haaland securing a comeback win in Madrid back in December.

Erling Haaland should return to the starting XI tonight after he was included in the travelling squad. The hosts will be without Kylian Mbappe as he continues to recover from injury.

Follow live build-up, updates and reaction in the blog below:

"I know I'm not incredibly loved in this place but I like to come [to the Bernabeu]. The people don't believe here in Madrid that I have respect, a lot of respect for his institution, because I did many, many good things for world football." (via TNT Sports)

Comments15:16Ross JacksonPep on life after footballPep Guardiola looking ahead to his post-football life:

"I will miss not going to Camp Nou, I'll miss Bayern Munich - hopefully we can go through and go there - and I will miss that, when I stop and retire," he told TNT Sports. "I will miss these nights because they are so special. I'll miss Selhurst Park as well, I love it. Premier League, these stadiums. Champions League I will miss, but Fulham, Crystal Palace, Goodison Park - these stadiums are one of the reasons I adore England, I adore the Premier League, for these kind of - FA Cup! Against League One [teams]... I like a lot."

Comments14:40Ross JacksonLijnders and Alexander-Arnold reunionPep Lijnders will reunite with one of his former players tonight in Real Madrid star Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Lijnders and Alexander-Arnold spent a long time together at Liverpool. The Dutch coach served as No.2 to Jurgen Klopp for two stints.

It was during that period that Alexander-Arnold grew as a player, so much so that many considered him a future Liverpool captain. Lijnders himself was among that number, backing Alexander-Arnold for the armband back in 2021.

Read what he said here >>>

Comments14:08Ross JacksonSpanish media concerns - already!Sections of the Spanish media have raised grave concerns over the official taking charge of City'sChampions League last-16 tie against Real.

The game will be overseen by Italian official Maurizio Mariani, but Spanish radio network Cadena SER have shared their reservations about the 44-year-old, just hours before the two sides meet. Speaking on air, former Spanish referee Iturralde Gonzalez admitted that he doesn't feel that Mariani is the best fit for a game of such magnitude.

Read what was said here >>>

Comments13:44Ross JacksonDonnarumma on life in ManchesterI have to say thanks, Bernardo, Ruben, Rodri - every single leader of this team has welcomed me very well with their arms open. They have allowed me to feel part of a team and at home and this is paramount to a new player.

It is not easy to change the city where I lived and the team that I played for.

We have many young players and I can give them a hand. I try to help them as much as I can with some situations and I feel that I can really help them out. I have plenty of experience and I think I can give them some advice.

Comments13:31Ross JacksonPep on Madrid's strugglesWe'll see. Last season we were quite poor in terms of mood and players that could play. See what happens. I won't say anything against this coach or the club or the players.

I know how difficult this competition is and for any other club if I play against any other team that is in this round they are all very tough teams.

Comments13:27Ross JacksonDoes Donnarumma think City can win the Champions League?I think there are some teams that can make it to the final, there are many strong and tough teams.

If you speak about last season, before the round of 16 nobody thought that PSG could be a strong candidate to win the final but things can change overnight.. It depends on the timing and how fit the team is.

Right now we are about to play games where you are in or out. You need to manage things properly. You have two games, sometimes you don't have to put so much things at risk. Every single detail can make a difference. In the Champions League details are everything and they can make the difference.

There are many teams that can win the Champions League, we will try to move on and make it to the end but there are very strong teams that can do the same.

Comments13:24Ross JacksonDifference between this season and last?Here's how Pep described it:

We arrive better in terms of we have the squad. Last season we arrived with a lot of fatigue and so few players available.

Comments13:21Ross JacksonPep on game that 'defined' CityThe Newcastle game defined who we are. The game defined the team, being proactive to regain the ball, when we cannot attack qucick for the quality they have, drop the team, don't make many mistakes - otherwise this competition punishes you a lot - and recover as much as possible is what defined the team in the last ten years

Comments13:19Ross JacksonFull list of Real injuriesMbappe

Mbappe returned to training on Monday but was only taking part in solo drills. He was also pictured in training on Tuesday but was not spotted with the rest of his teammates.

The England international has been missing since February. It is expected he will not recover in time to face City tonight.

Rodrygo scored Real's only goal when the two sides met in December but he will not feature in either leg against City. The Brazil international has undergone surgery on his ACL this week and will miss the entirety of this season and the World Cup.

Read the rest here >>>

Comments13:17Ross JacksonAnd City's recent formHere's a reminder of what sort of shape City are in heading into this game:

Newcastle 1-3 City

City 2-2 Nottingham Forest

City 2-1 Newcastle

City 2-0 Salford

Comments13:15Ross JacksonForm guideHere are Real's last 5 results coming into this game:

Celta Vigo 1-2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid 0-1 Getefa

Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica

Osasuna 2-1 Real Madrid

Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid

Comments13:09Ross JacksonReal to put faith in youth?As their injury crisis continues, Arbeloa said this when asked if his younger players were ready to step up:

Well... I think we all agree that in Vigo, the youth team players showed they’re not afraid to step up. Thiago had a fantastic game, Palacios changed the team, Manuel Ángel was key on that ball... it’s not easy to trust the youth academy when you’re sitting here, and that’s something people need to understand.

Because the best players in the world are here, and to play a youth player, you have to bench one of them. It’s not easy, but I have a lot of faith in them, and I feel that people identify with them. They’re ready for matches like tomorrow’s, as they’ve already shown.

Comments12:53Ross JacksonICYMI: Travelling squadA 23-man squad headed out to Madrid on Tuesday afternoon.

Haaland, who missed the FA Cup fifth round victory over Newcastle United, was included after training with his teammates in Manchester on Tuesday morning.

There were also spots on the plane for Semenyo and Guehi. The duo who signed from Bournemouth and Crystal Palace respectively in January, were ineligible to play the final league phase fixtures against Bodo/Glimt and Galatasaray.

See the 23-man squad here >>>

Comments12:18Ross JacksonArbeloa on Pep[Pep] always has a surprise prepared. 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.

Comments11:59Ross JacksonPep and Donnarumma give their thoughtsGuardiola was flanked by Donnarumma at his pre-match press conference in Madrid yesterday evening.

The pair gave their thoughts on the upcoming clash, City's Champions League aspirations and the news that Mbappe looks set to be out of tonight's game because of an injury.

Read everything they had to say here >>>

Comments11:57Ross JacksonCity stars may defy GuardiolaGuardiola believes that Champions League success has to be earned. Be it Barcelona, Bayern Munich or City, he thinks that blood, sweat, and tears are the backbone of any team that wants to 'grow up' and win the competition.

After several years of playing well but finding new heart-breaking ways to lose, 2023 in Istanbul was when City dragged themselves over the line despite not playing well in the final against Inter.

Against Real Madrid in the next fortnight, he wants his City team to 'deserve' to go through because they have stood up and been themselves on the big stage - even though most of those players have moved on.

Read on here >>>

Comments11:53Ross JacksonPre-Real podcastThe latest edition of our Talking City podcast was filmed yesterday ahead of the Real Madrid clash.

Join Simon Bajkowski out in Madrid as he discusses tonight's game with Alex James.

Comments11:48Ross JacksonOdds ahead of tonight's gameHere are the odds ahead of tonight's huge clash at the Bernabeu:

See all the odds with Bet365 here >>>

Comments11:46Ross JacksonOPINION: View from MadridWhat is Guardiola trying to achieve on the touchline in going out of his way to irk the officials? And what does it mean for City for both this season and beyond?

In the middle of an excellent performance from his players in the FA Cup at Newcastle, Guardiola appeared to have one of his strangest days in the office. He may never be a man to hide his frustrations, yet he went above and beyond his normal behaviour with referees before and after he picked up a yellow card.

Read more from our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski here >>>

Comments11:43Ross JacksonDonnarumma's response on Mbappe absenceDonnarumma is more confident of an easier night knowing Mbappe will not be available to hurt Manchester City again.

The former PSG striker scored a hat-trick against the Blues in the play-off last season and is the top scorer in the Champions League in this campaign, but he has been ruled out of the first leg through injury and is facing a race against time to make the second leg next week.

Read what he said here >>>

Comments11:41Ross JacksonValverde on MbappeFederico Valverde spoke yesterday about his side's plan in the absence of Kylian Mbappe against City. The Frenchman last played for Real in the defeat to Osasuna in February and has missed the last three matches due to a knee injury.

On Monday, Mbappe was pictured training alone as he continues his recovery. He was then spotted in a training session on Tuesday but Real are expected to be without their talisman this evening.

Read what he said here >>>

Comments11:40Ross JacksonReal predicted XIThibaut Courtois will start in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold is a familiar foe for City and should start at right-back.

Dean Huijsen missed the weekend victory over Celta Vigo due to suspension but is available to feature again alongside Antonio Rudiger at the back. Former Manchester United defender Alvaro Carreras has been the firm favourite at left-back this season but he picked up a calf injury recently and is unlikely to be available.

Read the rest of the team here >>>

Comments11:30Ross JacksonEarly team newsAs many as NINE players could miss tonight's game through injury.

Gvardiol will play no part having suffered a fracture to his right leg during the 1-1 draw with Chelsea in January. Kovacic is another who has spent a significant spell in the treatment room and he is also unavailable tonight, although he is back in team training and so there's a hope a return could be on the horizon.

Alleyne is continuing his comeback from a knock and he has been included in the travelling squad, as has Haaland after he sat out the FA Cup victory over Newcastle on Saturday.

Read on here >>>

Comments11:24Ross JacksonCity predicted XIDonnarumma will return ahead of Trafford while Guehi should make his Champions League debut alongside Dias. Nunes did feature at St James' Park but should retain his spot having made the right-back position his own. Ait-Nouri is also likely to return despite Nathan Ake's solid performance at Newcastle.

Having avoided a ban on Monday, Rodri will start in midfield. In front of him is where difficult decisions need to be made. Semenyo has been in brilliant form and should also make his Champions League debut.

Read on here >>>

Comments11:24Ross JacksonHow can I watch the game?Tonight's game will be will be shown live in the UK via Prime Video UK, TNT Sports 1, discovery+ and discovery+ app.

If you don't have access to any of those channels, stick with us for minute-by-minute updates of this huge encounter.

Comments11:24Ross JacksonHere we go!Hello and welcome to our live coverage of City's clash with Real Madrid.

Kick off is at 8pm tonight and we'll have all the build-up, updates and reaction from the Bernabeu. We saw some very one-sided games in the Champions League last night but this clash is almost certain to be a tight affair. Both teams are evenly matched and nobody will want to throw the tie away before the second leg. That being said, with all the attacking talent that will be on the pitch tonight, who knows what could happen.

It promises to be a fascinating affair and we'll be with you every step of the way.