Published: May 1, 2022 6:55 pm
Last Updated: May 1, 2022 6:55 pm
Manchester City are once again set to face off with Real Madrid this week.
The Citizens are currently competing with Los Blancos for a spot in the 2021/22 Champions League final.
Having already played out one leg of their semi-final tie, it is Manchester City who hold the advantage heading into the return leg at the Bernabeu.
The first meeting between the two European giants saw Manchester City come away with a 4-3 win in what was an enthralling encounter.
It was Pep Guardiola’s side who dominated proceedings at the Etihad and, in truth, they could have easily netted another two goals.
But, thanks to some moments of brilliance from Madrid’s key men, Carlo Ancelotti and co. remain firmly in the clash ahead of the reverse fixture.
And given how the likes of Karim Benzema and Luka Modric can win games for their side almost single handily, there remains a very real chance that Man City do not make it to the final in Paris.
Advertisement
Open Account Offer. Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org. UK & ROI residents only
Pep Guardiola’s record vs Real Madrid
However, Manchester City fans will take solace in the fact that their current boss, Pep Guardiola, has an excellent record vs Real Madrid.
To date, Guardiola has faced off with the Spanish giants 20 times in competitive matches – three times as Man City boss, twice in charge of Bayern Munich and the remaining 15 times when at the helm of Barcelona.
Throughout those 20 matches, Guardiola has lost just four times. Two of those losses came in the 2013/14 semi-finals when Pep’s Bayern were firmly dispatched by an aggregate scoreline of 5-0.
The remaining two losses came when Pep was managing Barcelona. The former midfielder first lost to Real as a manager in the 2011 Copa del Rey final, with the second loss occurring just over a year later in La Liga.
Pep has also drawn with Madrid four times, all whilst manager of Barcelona.
For Manchester City, meanwhile, Guardiola currently has a perfect record vs his old rivals, winning three games in a row.