ROAD TO WEMBLEY: Real Madrid lock horns with Man City in the UCL quarter-finals
Real Madrid is to face reigning champions Manchester City in the quarterfinals and then could face Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the semi-final.
It is a mouthwatering encounter between the two previous winners of the competition. Real Madrid and Man City both showed incredible form throughout the Championship as the only teams to have won all six Group Stage matches this season. City aced out FC Copenhagen with a commanding 6-2 victory in aggregate in the Round of 16 fixtures, while Los Blancos struggled to see off RB Leipzig with 2-1 on aggregate in Madrid.
It would be the fifth time and the third season in a row that both powerhouses would face each other in the UCL knock-out stages. There have so far been 31 goals scored in the encounters between both sides in the competition (Man City -17, Real Madrid -14), with the English side being more victorious (4) than the Spanish side (3) and 3 Draws between them.
The 2015/16 Semi-finals ended with a victory for Madrid after a 1-0 win in the 2nd Leg at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Los Blancos ahead to beat city rivals Atletico Madrid on penalties to win the Champions League.
In the 2019/20 Round of 16, Manchester City beat Madrid 2-1 in both Legs (4-2 in aggregate) to keep them off the prize for a second consecutive season after their dominance in the competition from 2015 to 2018.
Real Madrid got the better of Pep Gladiola’s team in the 2021/22 Semi-finals. They won 6-5 in aggregate in a game that dragged into Extra time. Real Madrid went on to beat Liverpool in the finals to secure their record-breaking 14th UCL title.
In last season’s 2022/23 Semi-finals, Man City avenged their previous campaign's heartbreak by producing one of the best performances in the competition history, defeating Madrid 4-0 (5-1 in aggregate) in the second Leg to seal their passage to the finals with Inter Milan. They went on to win their first-ever Champions League and thus, the tremble.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURE DATES
Like last year’s Semi-Finals, the tie would take place a week apart in April, with Real Madrid hosting the 1st Leg at the Bernabéu.
Tuesday 9th April Madrid Vs. Manchester City (20:00, Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Madrid, Spain)
Wednesday 17th April Manchester City Vs. Real Madrid (20:00, Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England)
Should Carlo Ancelotti’s men make it past the English champions, they would face Bayern Munich or Arsenal in the semi-finals for a place in the finals at Wembley in June. Their side of the draw is more intense than the more favorable group of teams on the other side, which includes Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and PSG.
UCL SEMI-FINALS DRAW
Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona
Manchester City or Real Madrid vs. Arsenal or Bayern Munich
After being eliminated from the Copa del Rey this season by city rivals Atletico Madrid in a six-goal thriller, Real Madrid hold on to the top of the La Liga table with nine matches to go. They extended their lead at the top to eight points from second-place Barcelona, thanks to a brace from in-form winger Vinicius Jnr, to defeat Osasuna 4-2 at the El Sadar Stadium last weekend.
Carlo Ancelotti's tactics have been crucial in navigating Real Madrid through this challenging period. The Italian has managed to keep the team afloat despite the absence of key playmakers such as Eder Militao, Dani Ceballos, David Alaba, Joselu, and Thibaut Courtois, who are all sidelined due to injuries. He has shown impressive adaptability in reshaping the way his team plays to compensate for the absence of these players. Unlike Manchester City who are still in the chase of a back-to-back tremble, Los Blancos are only in pursuit of the domestic league and Champions League.
UPCOMING REAL MADRID LA LIGA MATCHES
Real Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao
In their upcoming Spanish La Liga fixture on Sunday 31st March, Real Madrid will face Athletic Bilbao in a title-decisive match at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Athletic Club currently sits in fourth place in the La Liga standings and would battle it out throughout the season for a place in the UEFA Champions League for the first time since their disappointing 2014/2015 season. Los Blancos, however, would fight to win at home and get all crucial points to secure the League title early.
Athletic Bilbao has a dynamic attacking play style led by Gorka Guruzeta, Unai Gomez, and the William brothers. They also play resilient football defensively. These would put both sides of the Madrid team on their toes throughout the game. With both teams vying for crucial points in the league, the match would surely be an intense display.
Real Mallorca vs. Real Madrid
Real Madrid will travel to face Real Mallorca on Saturday, 13th April at the Campo de fútbol de Son Moix after the first Leg of the Champions League game with Manchester City. Most key players may be rested in the game ahead of the 2nd Leg. However, losing crucial points could jeopardize Madrid’s chase for a third La Liga trophy in five years. Winning the game is a must for Carlo Ancelotti's men. They understand the importance of leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of glory in both competitions. They have the necessary talents to deliver an outstanding performance away from home.
Real Mallorca have struggled to make an impact this season. They sit 14th in the league table with only 30 points from 29 matches. A win over Madrid would be a big moral boast to their failing campaign, as they struggle to stay clear of the Relegation zone.
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona
In the last El Clásico this season, Real Madrid welcomes Barcelona to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Sunday, 21st April. Los Blancos has been the dominant team, defeating their Catalonian rivals on both occasions this season. Their 1st La Liga encounter at Camp Nou ended 2-1 in favor of Madrid, thanks to a brace by Jude Bellingham. Vinicius Jrn’s hattrick blew off Barcelona in a 4-1 victory at the Supercopa de Espana in January. Real Madrid would be confident in beating Xavi’s team again in this season’s most decisive title encounter.
On the other hand, Barcelona’s resurgence in recent months would threaten Madrid’s race to win the La Liga title. A win at the Bernabéu would reduce the points between them and boost the team’s confidence to end their 2023/2024 campaign with a trophy. Xavi Henandez would look forward to winning the El Clásico one more time as Barcelona’s coach before leaving the club at the end of the season, having won 17 times out of the 42 encounters he featured in as a Barcelona player. Expect nothing but brilliance between both teams throughout the game.
Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid
Real Madrid takes the trip to the Reale Arena in San Sebastian on Sunday, 28th April, to face Real Sociedad in another crucial La Liga match. La Real has bounced back with victories against Granada and Cadiz after defeats by Sevilla and the UCL knockout matches with PSG. They sit sixth in the league table and eye a return to the Champions League or at least, make it to the Europa League. A win at home against Los Blancos would be a step towards this goal. Real Madrid will fight to maintain their momentum and secure vital points as they push for the league title.
REAL MADRID TICKETS
Available Real Madrid Tickets are currently in high demand. Grab yours quickly, explore seat maps, and compare prices to secure your ideal spot for a beautiful experience. The upcoming matches will be both interesting and electrifying. From Champions League football to La Liga matches, Real Madrid’s hope for silverware is underway. Secure your tickets and be part of their journey. Cheer Los Blancos on as they navigate the rest of this thrilling season.