Home / Football Betting Tips & Predictions / Champions League Previews and Team News Real Madrid v Manchester City: Line-ups, stats and preview Real Madrid take on Manchester City in the last-16 of the Champions League. Read our in-depth preview here Written by Mitch Fretton Last Update: March 10, 2026 12:20:57 pm GMT 4 min read Real Madrid and Manchester City renew their modern Champions League rivalry on Wednesday night when they meet at the Santiago Bernabeu for the first leg of their last-16 tie. This will be the 16th meeting between the two clubs in the competition and remarkably the first time in Champions League history that the same fixture has taken place in the knockout stages across five consecutive seasons.Real Madrid are aiming to win a record-extending 16th European title this season, but their path to the knockout rounds proved more complicated than expected. Los Blancos finished ninth in the League Phase, missing out on automatic qualification and dropping into the play-off round.A 4-2 defeat to Benfica on the final matchday confirmed their play-off spot, although Alvaro Arbeloas side responded by defeating the Portuguese club 3-1 on aggregate to secure their place in the last 16. Madrid have an outstanding record in Champions League last-16 ties, progressing from 13 of their last 15 at this stage and winning the first leg in 10 of their last 12 knockout ties.Manchester City secured automatic qualification for the last 16 this season after finishing eighth in the League Phase with 16 points from eight matches.Pep Guardiolas side recorded five wins during that stage, including the notable 2-1 triumph at the Bernabeu courtesy of goals from Erling Haaland and Nico OReilly.The City manager will take charge of his 190th Champions League match on Wednesday, drawing level with Sir Alex Ferguson. However, his teams recent away record in the competition is less convincing, with only two wins from their last eight Champions League away matches.City have also struggled historically against Spanish sides in two-legged ties, losing seven of their last 10 in UEFA competitions, although they have won both of their away games against Spanish opposition in this seasons tournament.Table of Contents1 Team news for Real Madrid v Manchester City2 Expected line-ups for Real Madrid v Manchester City3 Where to watch Real Madrid v Manchester City: TV channel, online stream4 The stats for Real Madrid v Manchester City5 Prediction for Real Madrid v Manchester City6 What To Do If You Have A Gambling ProblemTeam news for Real Madrid v Manchester CityReal Madrid are expected to be without several key players. Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham are both likely to miss the match through injury, while Rodrygo is sidelined with an ACL. Eder Militao, Dani Ceballos and Alvaro Carreras are also unavailable, while Eduardo Camavinga and David Alaba will be assessed before kick-off.Dean Huijsen and Franco Mastantuono are available again after domestic suspensions, although neither player is expected to start.Manchester City have fewer injury concerns. Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic remain sidelined, but Pep Guardiola is expected to name a strong line-up after making multiple changes in the FA Cup at the weekend.Erling Haaland, who was rested against Newcastle, should return to lead the attack. The Norwegian has scored 56 goals in 56 Champions League appearances and has an excellent record against Spanish clubs in the competition.Expected line-ups for Real Madrid v Manchester CityReal Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Rudiger, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Guler; G Garcia, Vinicius JrManchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Bernardo, Rodri, OReilly; Semenyo, Haaland, MarmoushWhere to watch Real Madrid v Manchester City: TV channel, online streamThe match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on TNT Sports.Subscribers can also watch the game via the Discovery+ streaming platform on mobile devices, tablets and smart TVs.Kickoff at the Santiago Bernabeu is scheduled for 8:00pm GMT on Wednesday.The stats for Real Madrid v Manchester CityReal Madrid have reached the Champions League last 16 for 23 consecutive seasonsLos Blancos have progressed from 13 of their last 15 last-16 tiesManchester City beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabeu earlier in this seasons competitionErling Haaland has scored 56 goals in 56 Champions League appearancesPep Guardiola will manage his 190th Champions League match in this fixturePrediction for Real Madrid v Manchester City Real Madrid 1 2 Manchester City The absence of both Mbappe and Bellingham would significantly weaken Real Madrid in attack and midfield, while Manchester City arrive in strong form and already know they can win at the Bernabeu this season. The Spanish giants remain dangerous in Europe, but City may have enough quality to take a narrow advantage into the second leg. Bet Here What To Do If You Have A Gambling ProblemWe understand that gambling can be fun, but it is always important to gamble responsibly. If you are struggling with a gambling problem, please do not hesitate to ask for help. There are people who can help you get on the road to recovery. Below, we have listed some helpful resources to help aid you on the road to recovery.National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133GamCare:www.gamcare.org.ukGambleAware:www.gambleaware.com Topics: Manchester City F.C. Real Madrid CF Follow us: Mitch Fretton Mitch is a freelance sports journalist with experience working for LiveScore, GOAL and Colchester United. He has experience working from both his desk at home and in the press box at games covering the Champions League and international football. Read more from Mitch Fretton
