A Champions League clash befitting of the ultimate awaits tonight as Manchester City and Real Madrid collide in the primary leg of their play-off showdown.
Certainly one of these giants is facing elimination before the round of 16 stage with Pep Guardiola’s side eager to salvage European glory from what has been a reasonably rotten campaign back home in England.
Defending champions Real Madrid arrive in Manchester battered and bruised. Carlo Ancelotti is without his entire first-choice defence with players shifted here there and in all places to try to accommodate the lack of some key personnel on the back.
That is the fourth 12 months in a row City and Real have been paired on this competition – it’s a fixture that doesn’t allow us to down.
Stay across all of the motion on the Etihad and from tonight’s other Champions League ties with Metro’s LIVE matchday blog.
