Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes the victor of his team’s Champions League clash with Manchester City will be a strong contender for the title.
The two European giants are set to face off for the fourth consecutive season, with the first leg taking place in Manchester on Tuesday.
However, this meeting comes earlier than usual, as both teams struggled in the newly formatted league phase, each suffering three defeats in eight matches.
City narrowly advanced to the knockout rounds after a late comeback against Club Brugge, but their domestic form has been far from convincing.
The reigning Premier League champions currently sit fourth in the table, a staggering 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, are leading a tight LaLiga title race against Atletico Madrid and Barcelona but have also faced challenges, particularly with defensive injuries.
Notably, the winner of past three Real Madrid vs. Manchester City Champions League encounters has gone on to win the tournament. Ancelotti believes that pattern could continue.
“Yes, the most difficult opponent, most important opponent and against the best manager,” Ancelotti said in his pre-match press conference on Monday. “I’m convinced the team that goes through in this tie will go very deep into the competition.”
City endured a rough patch between October and December, winning just one of 13 matches. Although they have improved slightly in 2025, their weaknesses were brutally exposed in a 5-1 defeat to Arsenal in their most recent Premier League game.
Ancelotti admitted he was surprised by City’s struggles but remains wary of Guardiola’s side.
“I continue to think City is one of the best teams in Europe and that they have the best coach in this competition. It is still the most difficult game we could have,” he said.
“I am surprised they had a period where it was difficult to overcome the injuries, but now the team I saw in the last few games is a good team, a competitive team.
“I struggle to imagine Manchester City not being strong. They are really strong with fantastic players and a fantastic manager.”
Madrid’s defensive crisis deepened after Lucas Vazquez was ruled out, joining Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, and David Alaba on the injury list. As a result, Ancelotti is expected to deploy an improvised backline featuring Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde alongside Raul Asencio and Ferland Mendy.
With both teams facing key challenges, the much-anticipated clash at the Etihad promises to be another thrilling chapter in their Champions League rivalry.
