Real Madrid vs Man City LIVE Champions League updates
ShareCommentsBySimon BajkowskiChief Manchester City WriterAlex JamesContent EditorRoss JacksonUpdated18:28, 11 MAR 2026BookmarkIt's game day! Manchester City will meet Real Madrid this evening in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
In terms of the team news, Erling Haaland should return to the starting XI tonight, while 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:
It's going to be really interesting to see which way Guardiola sets up tonight.
The 4-2-2-2 has been effective for the last two months but the switch to wingers had Guardiola purring on Saturday at Newcastle and you feel that he is more at home spiritually with the 4-3-3.
Either way, City should be dangerous and they are likely to include Nico O'Reilly in their midfield no matter what.
The 20-year-old was man-of-the-match in the group game here in December playing from left-back but has since come into midfield to give the team an added oomph in the middle and is comfortable in either formation.
Comments18:17Simon BajkowskiTwo debutants for City City have three players in their squad that moved from other Premier League teams for precisely these kind of nights.
Rayan Ait-Nouri moved from Wolves and has started the last two Champions League games, while this will be the first game in the competition for Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi after their January moves.
You would think that both will be involved from the start and what a tournament debut to be playing at the Bernabeu. They will be as thrilled as City have been with them since they slotted straight into the team.
Comments17:59Alex JamesThe Madrid verdict Alvaro Arbeloa addressed the media yesterday and had this to say on the prospect of tonight's tie
It will be a tough game against a great opponent, with great players and a great coach. It’s a very exciting and highly anticipated match for the fans. We are fully aware that we need them with the sole objective of winning the game, which is how we’re going to approach it on the pitch. We are very motivated.
You all know how special the Champions League is for all of us, and with that mindset, desire, and enthusiasm, we want to play this game.
We’d have to mark many of them because they’re all very good. It’s a team with many individual talents, but they also perform very well as a unit.
Their ideas are very clear, and they’ve been with Guardiola for seven or eight years. They know each other perfectly and can play with their eyes closed. This is a game to stay very focused, do many things well, defend, know how to attack, set pieces… Every second and every detail is crucial, but we are confident, prepared, and very eager for it to come.
Comments17:42Alex JamesDonnarumma 'at home' The City stopper
I feel like I’ve been in Manchester for many years and this is the most important victory.
The feeling with my team-mates, I always do what I do best.
I feel really good and I always try to give my best and help my team and try to give everything I can to win.
Comments17:21Alex JamesTonight's fixturesCity are an 8pm kick off tonight.
It's Arsenal who will get the action under way with their trip to Leverkusen.
Chelsea are on the road at PSG while the only tie not involving an English club is Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting Lisbon
Comments17:06Alex JamesKnockout datesSo City are obviously playing tonight with the second leg at the Etihad next Tuesday. But what about the later dates? Well wonder no more because here's the round dates all the way to the final in late May
Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026
Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026
Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)
Comments16:52Alex JamesLast night's resultsThere were some huge results last night
Bayern Munich were 6-1 winners over Atalanta in Italy so they are almost certain to be in the last eight. Vincent Kompany's side will play the winners of City vs Real Madrid.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid beat Spurs 5-2 in Spain so have one foot in the quarter-finals while Newcastle drew 1-1 with Barcelona after conceding a last minute equaliser.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have work to do after losing 1-0 to Galatasaray with the second leg to come at Anfield next week.
Comments16:23Alex JamesIncredible fixture runThis game for City is one of several over the coming weeks that just look absolutely HUGE
The FA Cup trip to Newcastle last time out was a big one, two ties with Madrid sandwiched between what feels a must win Premier League trip to West Ham make it a big week.
Then comes Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final and the other side of the international break brings the Gunners to the Etihad in the league the week after a trip to Chelsea.
Oh, and we could have a Champions League last eight tie against Bayern Munich in the middle of that as well.
Huge game after huge game after huge game!
Comments15:57Ross JacksonReal's 23-man squadHere is the Real Madrid squad for tonight's game:
Courtois, Lunin, Fran Gonzalez
Carvajal, Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Fran Garcia, Rudiger, Mendy, Huijsen, Diego Aguado
Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Arda Guler, Cestero, Manuel Angel, Palacios, Thiago
Vinicius Jnr, Gonzalo, Brahim, Mastantuono
Comments15:54Ross JacksonLast 5 meetingsLet's take a look at the scores the last five times these two teams have met:
Comments15:17Ross JacksonPep on trip to Madrid"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 >>>