Pep Guardiola has urged his Manchester City squad to show they are still “something special” as they prepare for a high-stakes Champions League showdown against Real Madrid. Despite a challenging season, the reigning Premier League champions are looking to make a statement in Europe’s top competition.
City and Real Madrid meet for the fourth consecutive season, but this time in the knockout play-offs after both teams underperformed in the new league phase. City scraped through in 22nd place in the 36-team table by securing a crucial win against Club Brugge, while defending champions Real Madrid finished 11th.
Guardiola, speaking ahead of Tuesday’s first-leg clash at the Etihad, admitted that his side was “not even close” to finishing in the top eight, which would have ensured automatic qualification for the last 16. Instead, City must now battle through the play-offs, where Real Madrid, as a seeded team, will host the second leg—an advantage Guardiola acknowledged.
“When you finish 22nd, you cannot ask for any favors,” Guardiola said. “You have to deserve it, and we didn’t.”
Despite their struggles this season, Guardiola remains confident in his squad, which has delivered incredible success over the past decade. City have dominated English football, winning six of the last seven Premier League titles, including four in a row. However, they currently sit in fifth place and are unlikely to challenge for another league title this season.
“I trust my players,” Guardiola stated. “They have given us an incredible decade, winning so much and maintaining high standards. I know what we are capable of, and I hope we can prove it tomorrow.”
Elsewhere in the play-offs, past Champions League winners Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also in unexpected danger. Seven-time European champions Bayern finished 12th in the standings and now face a long road to the final in Munich on May 31. However, their draw against Celtic, who last won the European Cup in 1967, is seen as more favorable. The Scottish side hosts the first leg on Wednesday.
PSG, on the other hand, enter their tie against Brest as strong favorites. After struggling in late 2024 with losses to Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, and Bayern, they recovered impressively by thrashing Manchester City and VfB Stuttgart to secure their place in the play-offs. Luis Enrique’s team will look to continue their momentum as they host the first leg on Tuesday.
This season’s new format allows national rivals to meet earlier than before, leading to an all-French battle between PSG and Brest. Meanwhile, Juventus face PSV Eindhoven in Turin, Feyenoord take on AC Milan in the Netherlands, and Club Brugge host Europa League holders Atalanta.
On Tuesday, Borussia Dortmund, last season’s runners-up and 1997 champions, travel to Sporting Lisbon, with both clubs having recently changed managers. Benfica, two-time European champions, visit Monaco on Wednesday.
With several heavyweight clubs fighting for survival in the Champions League, the upcoming fixtures promise high drama as teams aim to keep their European dreams alive.
