Real Madrid vs Man City LIVE Champions League updates

ShareCommentsBySimon BajkowskiChief Manchester City WriterAlex JamesContent EditorRoss JacksonUpdated20:15, 11 MAR 2026BookmarkManchester City will be hoping to take a step towards the quarter-finals of the Champions League tonight when they face Real Madrid.

Pep Guardiola has handed Abdukodir Khusanov a start in the Bernabeu as Manchester City take on Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 first leg.

Khusanov has been given the nod over Matheus Nunes at right back while Nico O'Reilly is preferred to Rayan Ait-Nouri on the opposite side.

Guardiola has shown faith in Savinho by handing him a start while Jeremy Doku is also in the side, with City set to abandon their recent 4-2-2-2 shape in favour of a set-up to include wingers.

Follow live build-up, updates and reaction in the blog below:

There’s that calmness again that Donnarumma gives you. City might feel they should have scored from either of those attacks they had involving Jeremy Doku, and they would have felt a million times worse about that if Real had gone up the other end and punished them with basically their first attack, yet it is a solid stop from Donnarumma from Brahim and City can start again.

Comments20:11Alex James8' MADRID 0 CITY 0 - Good saveDiaz, against his former club, forces a good save from Donnarumma after producing a neat first time effort. He looked offside there but wins a corner, which City are able to clear

Comments20:10Alex James7' MADRID 0 CITY 0 - Doku a dangerTwice Doku gets himself in space and twice he sends a low ball into the box that evades everyone in the box. He looks a threat in the early stages

Comments20:09Simon Bajkowski6' MADRID 0 CITY 0 - Interesting shapeBrahim Diaz tries to gee the crowd up after losing a battle to try to dispossess Marc Guehi.

City have taken the sting out of the Bernabeu early with plenty of possession but they are still offering encouragement in what has been a bit of a disjointed start from both teams.

It looks like a 4-4-2/4-2-4 that City are playing with Semenyo up alongside Haaland and then Doku and Savinho joining on the attack.

Comments20:05Alex James3' MADRID 0 CITY 0 - Doku closeAs I type that City win the ball back and Doku is able to advance from the centre circle to the penalty area but he takes an extra touch instead of shooting and the chance is gone

Comments20:05Alex James2' MADRID 0 CITY 0 - Hosts start wellMadrid keep the ball for nearly all the first two minutes. No chances to speak of but the home side have settled nicely.

Comments20:02Alex JamesKick offAway we go then.

City against Madrid, again.

Comments19:57Alex JamesHere come the teamsThe sides are making their way out here in Madrid.. For all the issues the home side have and the fact that the game is not a sell-out, the atmosphere is crackling.

City are in green tonight, just as they were in December when they won 2-1 in the League Phase.

Huge 90 minutes incoming

Comments19:54Simon BajkowskiHuge strengthOne of City's biggest strengths this season has been Pep Guardiola.

While many of their players are new, Guardiola has been there, done that, and got so many t-shirts he never has to shop again.

In contrast, when City were winning at the Bernabeu here in December Alvaro Arbeloa had just seen the Under-19s side he was in charge of suffer a 4-0 home defeat to City's youngsters.

It has been a big step up to fill Xabi Alonso's shoes however much Arbeloa understands the fabric of the club, and there is a real concern in Madrid that they are desperately treading water waiting for the waves to stop.

Guardiola has such an edge on Arbeloa in terms of coaching, but can he make that count tonight?

Comments19:50Simon BajkowskiTarget TrentJeremy Doku goes up against Trent Alexander-Arnold again in a match-up that the City attacker will relish.

He had plenty of success up against him when Alexander-Arnold was at Liverpool - even if he then wasted his final ball - and has kept that up since the defender switched to the Bernabeu.

That has to be an area where City target.

Comments19:46Simon BajkowskiEmpty seats tonightIt is the Champions League clasico but there will be empty seats for tonight’s game in the home and away sections.

Not selling out is usually an opportunity for fans to laugh at other clubs but when it is happening at every club that should be a sign to everyone that demand is not greater than supply and there needs to be a conversation about ticket prices.

Comments19:39Simon BajkowskiHaaland formErling Haaland was left at home for the weekend trip to Newcastle with the intention of the striker getting up to full speed.

In an interesting answer after the game, Guardiola said that after injuries like the minor one Haaland picked up before the Leeds game, he tends to lose something in his pace - perfectly understandable yet revealing.

It felt like that was played out across the Nottingham Forest match that Haaland returned for but was unable to have much of an impact in. Haaland's goalscoring has slowed down in recent months so this is an attempt to get him to lift that tempo again.

Comments19:33Simon BajkowskiMedia interest There is huge interest in any of the footballers who are turning up to be on media duties for the game. Sami Khedira was mobbed by young Real fans desperate for selfies and autographs, and so too - to a lesser extent - was Joe Hart. The one man who managed to slip brought the crowd, somehow, was former Real winger Steve McMananaman.

Comments19:27Alex JamesCity out to warm upHaaland all smiles as the City players enter the pitch to a chorus of whistles from the home fans who are already inside the stadium.

He's not been at his prolific best in recent weeks but he scored here from the spot in December and it would be a brave man to bet against him netting tonight

Comments19:24Simon BajkowskiFormidable opponentGIanluigi Donnarumma has not been part of any of the epic Champions League battles between City and Real over recent years, but he has played them twice over the last year.

Donnarumma was between the sticks for City’s 2-1 group game in December, but also kept a clean sheet for PSG in their 4-0 thumping of Real at the Club World Cup.

He will be a formidable opponent for Real to try to get past tonight.

Comments19:18Simon BajkowskiNunes unfortunatePep Guardiola said at Newcastle that City had to rotate playing in so many competitions, and while the focus for the FA Cup game was on the 10 changes it also had a consequence for the one who wasn’t swapped out.

Matheus Nunes started against Forest and Newcastle but is only on the bench tonight as Abdukodir Khusanov plays. It’s tough on Nunes, but that is the necessity of squad rotation.

Comments19:09Alex JamesWhat Pep will miss!Pep Guardiola has been speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the game tonight. When asked whether he'll miss significant fixtures, such as those against Real Madrid, upon retirement, Guardiola told TNT Sports: "Those games, of course I will miss, I have incredible love in this place, I like to come. The people in Madrid don't expect [it], but I have a lot of respect for this institution, they've done many many good things for world football.

"Yeah, I will miss but I will miss not going to Camp Nou, I'll miss Bayern Munich - hopefully we can go through and go there - and I will miss that, when I stop and retire. I will miss these nights because they are so special.

"I'll miss Selhurst Park as well, I love it. Premier League, these stadiums. I don't know, Champions League I will miss, but Fulham, Crystal Palace, this type [of stadiums], Goodison Park - these stadiums are one of the reasons I adore England, I adore the Premier League, for these kind of - FA Cup! Against League One [teams]... I like a lot! But one day it will be over, right?"

Comments19:00Simon BajkowskiSavinho call explainedSavinho is the big winner from the win at St James’ Park, keeping his place when many would not have him in the starting XI.

But if you’re going to be playing 4-3-3, then you need two wingers and Savinho is certainly in that conversation.

It’s maybe a surprise that Semenyo doesn’t play out wide with somebody else inside, but if it is the strategy with wingers then Savinho makes sense.

Comments18:47Alex JamesCity teamDonnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, O'Reilly; Bernardo, Rodri, Semenyo, Doku, Savinho, Haaland

Comments18:28Simon BajkowskiTactical decisions tonightIt's going to be really interesting to see which way Guardiola sets up tonight.

The 4-2-2-2 has been effective for the last two months but the switch to wingers had Guardiola purring on Saturday at Newcastle and you feel that he is more at home spiritually with the 4-3-3.

Either way, City should be dangerous and they are likely to include Nico O'Reilly in their midfield no matter what.

The 20-year-old was man-of-the-match in the group game here in December playing from left-back but has since come into midfield to give the team an added oomph in the middle and is comfortable in either formation.

Comments18:17Simon BajkowskiTwo debutants for City City have three players in their squad that moved from other Premier League teams for precisely these kind of nights.

Rayan Ait-Nouri moved from Wolves and has started the last two Champions League games, while this will be the first game in the competition for Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi after their January moves.

You would think that both will be involved from the start and what a tournament debut to be playing at the Bernabeu. They will be as thrilled as City have been with them since they slotted straight into the team.

Comments17:59Alex JamesThe Madrid verdict Alvaro Arbeloa addressed the media yesterday and had this to say on the prospect of tonight's tie

It will be a tough game against a great opponent, with great players and a great coach. It’s a very exciting and highly anticipated match for the fans. We are fully aware that we need them with the sole objective of winning the game, which is how we’re going to approach it on the pitch. We are very motivated.

You all know how special the Champions League is for all of us, and with that mindset, desire, and enthusiasm, we want to play this game.

We’d have to mark many of them because they’re all very good. It’s a team with many individual talents, but they also perform very well as a unit.

Their ideas are very clear, and they’ve been with Guardiola for seven or eight years. They know each other perfectly and can play with their eyes closed. This is a game to stay very focused, do many things well, defend, know how to attack, set pieces… Every second and every detail is crucial, but we are confident, prepared, and very eager for it to come.

Comments17:42Alex JamesDonnarumma 'at home' The City stopper

I feel like I’ve been in Manchester for many years and this is the most important victory.

The feeling with my team-mates, I always do what I do best.

I feel really good and I always try to give my best and help my team and try to give everything I can to win.

Comments17:21Alex JamesTonight's fixturesCity are an 8pm kick off tonight.

It's Arsenal who will get the action under way with their trip to Leverkusen.

Chelsea are on the road at PSG while the only tie not involving an English club is Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting Lisbon

Comments17:06Alex JamesKnockout datesSo City are obviously playing tonight with the second leg at the Etihad next Tuesday. But what about the later dates? Well wonder no more because here's the round dates all the way to the final in late May

Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026

Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026

Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)

Comments16:52Alex JamesLast night's resultsThere were some huge results last night

Bayern Munich were 6-1 winners over Atalanta in Italy so they are almost certain to be in the last eight. Vincent Kompany's side will play the winners of City vs Real Madrid.

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid beat Spurs 5-2 in Spain so have one foot in the quarter-finals while Newcastle drew 1-1 with Barcelona after conceding a last minute equaliser.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have work to do after losing 1-0 to Galatasaray with the second leg to come at Anfield next week.

Comments16:23Alex JamesIncredible fixture runThis game for City is one of several over the coming weeks that just look absolutely HUGE

The FA Cup trip to Newcastle last time out was a big one, two ties with Madrid sandwiched between what feels a must win Premier League trip to West Ham make it a big week.

Then comes Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final and the other side of the international break brings the Gunners to the Etihad in the league the week after a trip to Chelsea.

Oh, and we could have a Champions League last eight tie against Bayern Munich in the middle of that as well.

Huge game after huge game after huge game!

Comments15:57Ross JacksonReal's 23-man squadHere is the Real Madrid squad for tonight's game:

Courtois, Lunin, Fran Gonzalez

Carvajal, Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Fran Garcia, Rudiger, Mendy, Huijsen, Diego Aguado

Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Arda Guler, Cestero, Manuel Angel, Palacios, Thiago

Vinicius Jnr, Gonzalo, Brahim, Mastantuono

Comments15:54Ross JacksonLast 5 meetingsLet's take a look at the scores the last five times these two teams have met:

Comments15:17Ross JacksonPep on trip to Madrid"I know I'm not incredibly loved in this place but I like to come [to the Bernabeu]. The people don't believe here in Madrid that I have respect, a lot of respect for his institution, because I did many, many good things for world football." (via TNT Sports)