Manchester City and Real Madrid are battling for a place in the Champions League final. If Manchester City are to reach a second Champions League final and take one more step towards their owner’s ultimate prize, they will have to overcome Real Madrid, European football’s greatest enigma.
Real Madrid have won the Champions League six times in nine years and yet they don’t seem to get the respect their recent exploits deserve. This could be due to their inconsistent domestic record (although three league titles in seven seasons isn’t that bad), the gamesmanship of the likes of Pepe and Sergio Ramos or the admired-but-rarely loved Cristiano Ronaldo.
Had it been Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona who won the Champions League six times in nine years, they would have likely named the trophy after them. However, Madrid have not revolutionised the game, they have just dominated it. Their motto could be borrowed from Al Davis, the legendary owner of American Football’s Las Vegas Raiders: ‘Just win, baby.’
In the Champions League, Madrid have done an awful lot of winning, particularly against English opposition. They have played six ties against Premier League clubs in the last two seasons, winning five and drawing 1-1 at half-time in the sixth.
Their closest English parallel is Abramovich-era Chelsea. Managers and styles come and go but a strong core of players remains and the silverware keeps on coming. Chelsea’s last trophy under the Russian’s ownership was the 2021 Champions League, where they saw off a much-fancied City team in the final game of a largely underwhelming season.
Manchester City have already had their warning. Real Madrid’s record against English clubs in the last two years is as follows: 2021/22 – Chelsea in the quarter-finals – won 5-4 on aggregate; Liverpool in the final – won 1-0; 2022/23 – Liverpool in the last 16 – won 6-2 on aggregate; Chelsea in the quarter-finals – won 4-0 on aggregate; Manchester City in the semi-finals – 1-1 after the first leg. If Manchester City are to reach their goal, they must overcome Real Madrid’s impressive record against English opposition.