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Five classic Real Madrid vs Manchester City Champions League clashes ahead of league phase showdown
Real Madrid and Manchester City prepare to lock horns at the Bernabeu tonight, with both teams looking to gain three vital points in the race for automatic qualification into the UEFA Champions League's Round of 16.
Before 2012, the two sides had not yet met in a competitive match. But since then, they have produced an array of spectacles, facing each other fourteen times in Europe's most prestigious competition.
Ahead of this week's main event, we took a look at five of their most enthralling showdowns:
Real Madrid 3-2 Manchester City – September 2012
Starting with a Champions League group stage match - the first competitive tie between these two clubs, and it is fair to say the precedent was set for what was to come.
City were only just establishing themselves as European competitors, and as expected, a Madrid side full of galacticos such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo and Higuain dominated the first half of the game, but could not find the back of the net.
Then, out of nowhere in the second half, Edin Džeko finished off a counterattack manufactured by Yaya Toure.
Celebrations were short-lived for the blue side of Manchester, as Marcelo scored a sublime long-range curler in the 75th minute.
After surviving some heavy pressure from Madrid, the Citizens thought they had won it when Aleksandar Kolarov put them back ahead in the 85th minute with a free-kick. But to their disappointment, Benzema scored seconds later, and then in the last minute of the game, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and scored a long-range effort to haunt his former Manchester rivals.
Manchester City 4-0 Real Madrid – May 2023
(Getty Images)
Shooting forward ten years, and Manchester City had become the fierce European competitors they always threatened to be, however, they were still missing one thing - A Champions League title.
Heading into the semi-final, it was very clear that to be the best, City had to beat the best, and in the Champions League, there is no better than Real Madrid.
City came into this second-leg tie at the Etihad all square (1-1 on aggregate) after a professional display at the Bernabeu.
Understandably, in the build-up to this game there was a lot of deliberation over who would win. But the truth is, it was over before it even started.
The Etihad produced one of the its finest ever atmospheres, and Manchester City blew away Madrid in the most uneven showdown between the two. Bernardo Silva bagged a composed brace in the first half, followed by goals from Manuel Akanji and Julian Alvarez to secure Manchester City's place in the Champions League Final.
They would go on to win the tournament for the first time in their history.
Real Madrid 3-3 Manchester City – April 2024
Javier Soriano
Manchester City came into this one with a big target on their back as defending European champions.
Real Madrid were hungry for revenge after the semi-final defeat in the previous season, but it was City who started better.
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring in under two minutes with a free-kick that many would argue should have been saved by Andriy Lunin. Madrid bounced back quickly, scoring two goals in two minutes to turn the tie on its head, Dias (OG) and Rodrygo the providers.
In the second half, City got a quick-fire double of their own. Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol put their team back in the lead with two beautiful curling efforts almost identical to each other.
However, the recurring theme of short-lived happiness in this fixture returned again, as five minutes after The Citizens retook the lead, Federico Valverde scored a sublime driven volley to salvage a result for Los Blancos.
In the end, A draw was the fair result as both sides struggled to take control of the match. Real Madrid displayed their 'never say die' attitude in the UCL, and they went on to win the second leg on penalties, and in the end, their fifteenth UEFA Champions League title.
Manchester City 4-3 Real Madrid – April 2022
The first of arguably one of the greatest two-legged affairs football has ever seen.
As the players walked out, the City fans had turned the Etihad into a sea of blue and white with their flags, accompanied by a daunting atmosphere.
The players responded, and by the eleventh minute, Manchester City had stormed into a 2-0 lead thanks to De Bruyne and Jesus. City continued to dominate and created chance upon chance, but they were unable to extend their lead - something which would come back to haunt them.
Out of absolutely nothing, Karim Benzema got his side back in the game with a lovely first-time volley into the far corner to give his team hope.
Manchester City started the second half like they started the first, as Phil Foden nodded home to restore their two-goal lead - only for Vinicius Jr. to come up with a piece of magic two minutes later, where he ran the length of City's half untouched, and slotted home.
Goals from Bernardo Silva and Karim Benzema capped off the match at 4-3, with the second-leg being finely poised.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City – May 2022
PA
Expectations were high after an incredible seven-goal spectacle in the first leg at the Etihad.
The stakes were even higher with the victor of this one securing their ticket to the final in Paris.
In a goalless first half, both sides understandably seemed a bit cautious. Madrid started with intent and created some decent half-chances. City grew into the game, with Phil Foden having a couple of efforts saved.
The second half got off to a much quicker start, with Vinicius Jr. missing an open net just ten seconds into the action.
Manchester City started to dominate the ball with class, and were rewarded when Riyad Mahrez scored a sublime near-post finish, with City now having one foot in the final.
City continued to control, Real Madrid could not get anywhere near them. It seemed as if they were cruising into the final.
Then came the last ten minutes.
Jack Grealish profited from City's possession and had two big chances to kill the game off near its end.
Those who watched the live broadcast of this game will remember the famous win predictor in the 89th minute, which gave Real Madrid only 1% chance of turning the game around.
Perhaps it was meant to be for Los Blancos.
In the space of two minutes, Rodrygo bagged an incredible brace, keeping the tie alive. City were stunned, and nearly lost it a minute later when Ederson denied Rodrygo perhaps the greatest and quickest hat-trick of all time in the UCL.
It went to extra time, and in the 95th, Benzema slotted home a penalty to remarkably put Real Madrid back in the lead - and eventually, secure their place in the final.
The Spanish giants completed one of the most improbable comebacks football has seen. They went on to win their fourteenth UEFA Champions League title in the final against Liverpool.
Full Champions League fixture list for Round 6, Wednesday
Wednesday, December 10:
- Qarabag FK vs Ajax
- Villareal vs FC København
- Atheletic Club vs PSG
- Leverkusen vs Newcastle
- Benfica vs Napoli
- Dortmund vs Bodø/Glimt
- Club Brugge vs Arsenal
- Juventus vs Pafos FC
- Real Madrid vs Manchester City
How to watch the Champions League in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, each offering a different selection of sports. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
