Man City’s hold over European football proves temporary in painful loss to Real Madrid

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There are ways of losing, and Pep Guardiola made clear that this one, in a game his team dominated, in a shootout they threw away, was acceptable and that he had made his peace with it.
Over 120 minutes and the generous time added on in all four periods of this Champions League quarter-final second leg, Manchester City largely ran Real Madrid the way they do so the weekly Premier League opposition. They had twice as much possession, and 33 attempts on the Real goal compared to eight in return and for most of it one felt that the decisive goal was coming. Long before the referee ended it all and obliged both sides to choose their five penalty takers, tired Real legs were defending the very edge of their penalty area.
It will, for now perhaps, comfort Guardiola that his players gave everything in the defence of the Champions League they won last June. Effusive in his praise he said they had done all they could – apart from score one more. Kevin De Bruyne had equalised in the second half following Rodrygo’s early goal that had tipped the tie in Real’s favour, and after that one expected City to finally grind down the last of the resistance. That, indeed, is what these great players are supposed to do.
Kevin De Bruyne equalises for Man City! 🔥It’s game on in Manchester… 👀📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/khNYGtO9GZ
Yet there was a lingering doubt – why indeed had they not? Central to the Guardiola plan is the elimination of the usual vicissitudes of football and yet here they seemed to be confounded by a detail. Neither Erling Haaland nor Kevin De Bruyne were still on the pitch by the penalty shootout, the former having been substituted before the start of extra-time. Guardiola would later say that both of them, as well as Manuel Akanji, had requested their own substitutions.
For Haaland it was the kind of night where he had been expected to be decisive. He was the player Real had courted years before his 2022 move to City, and yet he felt peripheral for much of it – with the exception of one first half header against the bar. The game was dominated by the usual cast of characters – Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne. None could apply the final blow, and one naturally looks to the goalscorer when that breaks down.
Guardiola was, nevertheless, not pointing fingers. With no Haaland and no De Bruyne it turned out that on Guardiola’s list of penalty takers, Ederson, his goalkeeper back for just his second start after injury, was No 5. By then Ederson was taking his penalty to force Real to their last one. City were 3-2 behind when Ederson scored to make it 3-3 – their shootout ruined by a disastrous pair of penalties from Bernardo and Mateo Kovacic.
It looked like a complete malfunction from the Bernardo for the second of City’s penalties, just after Luka Modric, on as a substitute, had unexpectedly missed Real’s first. Bernardo chipped it straight at Andriy Lunin, the Real goalkeeper. After Jude Bellingham dispatched Real’s second, Kovacic did little better with a saveable strike to Lunin’s right and for the first time, Real could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
This time last year, City appeared to have effected some kind of Champions League shift of power with a 4-0 second leg win over Real at home in the semi-finals. Now that feels like it may only have been temporary. It is Bellingham who will face his England team-mate Harry Kane at Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. Jadon Sancho is still there with Borussia Dortmund. But the English club interest in the competition is over.
It had been a great game in the more competitive early periods. Real had been brilliant for spells in the first half, yet the question that they might have been asking themselves was: would brilliant be enough? By the second half, and the grip of City tightening it felt like that might not be the case. Yet Carlo Ancelotti timed his substitutions well. Modric again playing the role of game-closer. Lucas Vazquez coming in at right-back for a cramp-struck Dani Carvajal. Every last ounce of energy being summoned by the exhausted survivors including Bellingham.
The Real goal was worth revisiting. It felt so long ago as almost to belong to a different game by the time Antonio Rudiger converted the winning tenth penalty. They were exploiting the space behind City’s back four and the Real goal, on 12 minutes, was beautifully made.
The ball from Carvajal hung up long enough for one to wonder just what Bellingham’s touch might be like on a loopy flight that offered the recipient no useful pace or angle. The answer was that it was exquisite. He did not simply stun the ball, he turned it back with the outside of his boot past one blue shirt and then redirected it past another.
On to Federico Valverde and then to Vinicius and it was whipped across the goal. From Rodrygo’s connection, Ederson made the first save but could not stop the same striker finishing the rebound. It had been a breath-taking move and City had not been near the ball.
Rodrygo gives Real Madrid the lead at the Etihad! 🤩📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK #UCL pic.twitter.com/90xbbybexj
Of course they came roaring back. Jack Grealish would tease the life out of Carvajal and the two would be booked for fouls upon the other. Eventually Guardiola would swap Jeremy Doku for Grealish – a profitable substitution that almost won the game. There was the usual strong flow of City chances for Haaland, De Bruyne and others but the goal did not arrive until much later.
With John Stones still fit only for the bench, and a late cameo, it was Akanji who stepped into midfield from defence. Doku created the equaliser on the left wing. Rudiger had done a poor job of the clearance that fell straight to the feet of De Bruyne in the area. So much so that De Bruyne could take a touch before he finished to take the tie to 4-4. 
There was one more chance for De Bruyne before extra time but these moments were slipping away from City. Another came and went for Phil Foden in the ninth minute of extra time. Real held on and they seized the chance when, in the penalties, City’s concentration slipped at last.
A penalty shootout to forget for Man City 🫣#UCL pic.twitter.com/heNbuZbabd
“It’s obviously a difficult one to take”Ruben Dias reflects on “very frustrating” quarter-final loss to Real Madrid…🎙️ @julesbreach | #UCL pic.twitter.com/Khli3uHTrg
“Today was the first day my brother got to see me play for Madrid” ❤️Jude Bellingham talks beating Man City at the Etihad, moving to Spain and playing under Carlo Ancelotti…🎙️ @laura_woodsy | @rioferdy5 | @JoleonLescott pic.twitter.com/AhVRhVEV6l
With Thibaut Courtois injured, Andriy Lunin stepped up tonight and was crucial in that penalty shootout for Real.
The one and only, @AndreyLunin13. pic.twitter.com/KJZpHDNQYZ
Jude Bellingham celebrating in the crowd after beating Man City on pens 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UeGaBksfiF
“We suffered a lot tonight because City really put you under the cosh. But we are Real Madrid. We always, always fight until the very end.
“We aren’t used to suffering like that. Normally it’s us putting teams under the cosh like that. But the only thing which mattered, all night, was making sure it was us in the semi-finals. We showed another side of ourselves; we showed we know how to defend deep and win.
“We put on a terrific display of how to defend and, both individually and collectively, this is such a happy feeling. I’ve got goosebumps talking about it. We didn’t start the shoot-out too well but we are a proud bunch. We showed our pride and made this a magical night.”
Carlo Ancelotti is the first manager to knock Pep Guardiola out of the Champions League in three different campaigns:◎ 2014 Semi-final vs. Bayern◎ 2022 Semi-final vs. Man City◉ 2024 Quarter-final vs. Man CityThe Don went on to win the previous two times. 🤨#UCL pic.twitter.com/jVaflwBpEN
6 – Real Madrid have eliminated the reigning UEFA Champions League title-holders six times in knockout ties – at least twice as often as any other side in the competition’s history. Authority. pic.twitter.com/rWhYFEYE8X
Rodri’s 66 game unbeaten streak is over ❌ pic.twitter.com/7bvdzkb4gP
There will be no English representation in the Champions League final at Wembley with both Manchester City and Arsenal going out tonight.
We now have the four confirmed Champions League semi-finalists:
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid
Borussia Dortmund vs PSG
Rudiger slots home into the bottom left-hand corner off the post and Real Madrid are through to the Champions League semi-finals.
Real Madrid knock out Manchester City to reach the Champions League semi-finals! 🏆🙌#UCL pic.twitter.com/xDldAJbMmT
Real Madrid beat Man City 4-3 on penalties to progress to their 33rd #UCL semi-final 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GK2caLV3rY
The goalkeeper steps up and plants it into the corner, despite Lunin going the right way.
He strides up and slams home to his right, with Ederson going the wrong way.
Foden steps up and sends Lunin the wrong way.
Vazquez slots it into the bottom left-hand corner. Composure.
Lunin guesses the right way and dives to his right to deny Kovacic.
Jude rolls it into the bottom left corner.
He tries to go down the middle and Lunin stands his ground and makes an easy save.
Ederson guesses the right way and dives to his right to deny the Croatian.
Lunin goes the wrong way and Alvarez scores to his right.
Here we go, time for penalties. Alvarez will take the opening penalty of the shootout.
There is the whistle and we are going to penalties.
Alvarez has an effort from the right-hand side of the box but his shot is straight at Lunin.
Just one added minute and then penalties will be upon us.
Just a minute left of extra time.
Real are just holding on here, desperate seemingly for penalties.
Rudiger gets a crucial block in on his former Chelsea teammate Kovacic and Manchester City will have yet another corner tonight. Real head it away.
Vazquez shoots from outside the box but he cannot keep his effort down and it goes over the bar.
Double change for Manchester City as Stones and Kovacic replace Akanji and De Bruyne.
Carvajal is down. His teammates are trying to help him with cramp in both legs but is unable to continue. Militao is going to come on to replace him.
We are back under way.
Huge miss from Rudiger. Initially Manchester City clear but it is played back in. Somehow Rudiger still finds himself in the Manchester City box and he misses from inside the six-yard box. How has he missed the target?
That is the final act of the first period and there are just 15 minutes remaining.
Real have come into this after initially it was more of the same from City piling the pressure on. Real’s first break forward, after a couple of Luka Modric touches that showed all his class, saw Kyle Walker match Vini Jr for pace and strength. Supreme defending. Antonio Rudiger was the wrong player for their final chance of the first half of extra-time to fall to. He was right in front of goal and more composure would have seen Real take the lead again.
Real have their first corner of the night in the 106th minute as Bellingham’s cross is deflected behind…
There are two added minutes at the end of this first period of extra time.
Real have not had a shot on target since Rodrygo’s goal inside the opening 15 minutes.
After Walker defends well at one end to deny Vinicius Junior, down the other end Manchester City have a corner.
Before that corner Real are going to make a change as Vinicius is coming off, having been down on the ground. He walks off slowly to be replaced by Vazquez.
Chance for Foden. Bernardo picks him out from the left and, in the centre of the box, Foden tries to hit it first time but mis-hits his shot.
Manchester City have a corner, their 16th of the night. For comparison, Real have not had one tonight. Real clear their lines.
Doku whips a ball across the box but none of his teammates are on hand to get on the end of it.
Within seconds of the restart Bellingham is down. Dias stepped across him and body-checked Bellingham. No free-kick given though.
Here we go with extra time. Pep Guardiola has taken off Haaland and brought on Alvarez.
This has been one of the best halves of Champions League football from Manchester City. They have been dominant, created plenty of chances and have not given Real Madrid a sniff. Now they need to complete the job in extra-time but they have the momentum in the tie and legs on the bench. The great Real Madrid look like they are playing for penalties in the last hour of the evening.
It is all over in Bavaria and Bayern Munich have knocked Arsenal out. Joshua Kimmich’s goal was the difference on the night and Bayern have won 3-2 on aggregate. Bayern will play the winner of this game at the Etihad in the semi-finals.
Haaland has a chance at the back post but he cannot keep his effort down and it loops onto the top of the net. That is the final act of normal time and we are going to extra time.
FULL-TIME | Extra time is needed ⏱️🩵 1-1 ⚫️ #ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/1KouvPS6lL
Manchester City have a late, late corner…
Mendy is booked late into added time. Just seconds remain.
Rodri shoots with his left from outside the box but his effort is tame and rolls slowly into the hands of Lunin.
Carvajal has got away with one there. Doku is getting away from him down the left-hand touchline but is penalised for an accidental hand in the face on Carvajal. That was very harsh on Doku.
There will be four added minutes. 
Rodri is rightly booked for pulling Brahim back as Real countered.
De Bruyne finds Haaland at the far post but his header goes wide. It just came off the top of Bellingham’s head in front of Haaland before it reached the Norwegian.
Manchester City have a corner with just three minutes of normal time remaining…
Former Manchester City man Brahim Diaz is coming on for Real goalscorer Rodrygo.
Huge miss from De Bruyne. The ball is played across from the left by Akanji and De Bruyne is free 12 yards out. But he blazes his effort over the bar and he should have put Manchester City ahead.
Pep’s reaction to that KDB miss 🤦‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/RuzmtTRSr8
So, so close from De Bruyne. He cuts in onto his left and from outside the box tries to find the top corner. Lunin gets a touch to tip it over but the referee awards a goal-kick incorrectly.
Real are making a much-needed change as Modric comes on, replacing Kroos.
Manchester City are level on the night and on aggregate. Rudiger makes a mess of clearing Doku’s cross and it falls at the feet of De Bruyne. The Belgian takes on touch and lifts it into the roof of the net. 1-1 tonight, 4-4 on aggregate.
Kevin De Bruyne equalises for Man City! 🔥It’s game on in Manchester… 👀📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/khNYGtO9GZ
Big chance for Real. Valverde has it on the right and he has Vinicius Junior free centrally. But Valverde’s cross is snaffled by Ederson. If he had found Vinicius Junior that was a goal.
Manchester City are making their first change as Doku replaces Grealish.
Carvajal blocks a De Bruyne cross from the left and it goes behind for a corner. De Bruyne fires a low one into the near post but it goes behind for a goal-kick. Looking at the replays I am not sure the ball actually went out.
Moments later Grealish cuts onto his right on the left-hand side of the box and fires a shot towards Lunin, who just about holds onto the shot.
Just over 20 minutes to go. Still no substitutes from either manager. Surely for both sides they are not far away.
Italian ref Daniele Orsato has upset the City fans. He stops play after the ball struck him in the nether regions while City have the ball. The drop-ball gets given back to Real, to the annoyance of the home support. 
Pep Guardiola, dressed all in black, throws his head back at another City chance going begging. He is frustrated at failing to make the breakthrough but his players are creating chances and are on top.  
There has been a goal in Munich and it has gone to Bayern Munich. Joshua Kimmich has scored to give Bayern a 1-0 lead on the night, 3-2 on aggregate.
Two bookings for Manchester City in quick succession as Gvardiol is shown a yellow card for a foul on Bellingham.
Carvajal breaks forward into the Manchester City half and is hauled down by Grealish, who is booked. Roles reversed from the first half.
Akanji has it just inside the Real box and he hits it first time, but his effort goes sailing over the bar. It would have been more apt on a rugby pitch.
City are top goalscorers in the Champions League this season with 27 and you can see why. They make so many chances and had three just after the break here. Grealish had a volley saved from a corner, Nacho almost went through his own goal and needed to clear off his line, while Phil Foden had an effort saved. That last one was again from a corner and inswingers are causing Real trouble.
Gvardiol wins the flick-on at the near post and Camavinga manages to head away to safety.
Another Manchester City corner incoming. Real under pressure at the moment…
De Bruyne feeds the ball forward towards Haaland on the left-hand side of the box. Nacho is to it first but, with his goalkeeper Lunin coming out, for some reason he takes it past and nearly into his own goal. He just about clears it behind with Haaland right behind him.
Once again Lunin does not deal well with the ball into the box and it comes out to Foden, whose shot is saved by a retreating Lunin.
Rodrygo cuts in from the left and shoots from around 25 yards out but his effort does not trouble Ederson’s goal.
Bernardo, at the byline, tries to find Haaland at the back post but the cross has too much on it and goes over the Norwegian’s head.
Manchester City have the first corner of the second half. Lunin punches the ball away to the edge of the box, where Grealish hits it first time on the volley. He strikes it well and Lunin makes the save.
We are back under way at the Etihad. What will happen in this second half? We are about to find out.
How do you think the second half will pan out? Will Manchester City recover or will Real book their place in the semi-finals? You can have your say in the comments section at the bottom of the blog.
Jude’s touch in the build-up to Madrid’s goal… 😮‍💨#UCL pic.twitter.com/2FDlJrcbvT
4 – Rodrygo has scored four goals for Real Madrid against Manchester City – his outright most against a single opponent in all competitions for Los Blancos. Thorn. pic.twitter.com/W0aVAFf131
It is also half-time in Germany where it is 0-0 between Bayern Munich and Arsenal, 2-2 on aggregate. You can follow the live action here.
City have the artillery to turn this around. Jack Grealish got better as the half went on, drawing fouls and getting Dani Carvajal booked. There are words between the two off the ball in a fantastic battle. Real are telling him he is a diver. On the other flank, Kevin De Bruyne is getting in the right positions. Just a reminder that City have not lost a Champions League game at the Etihad since Lyon in Sep 2018. There were boos at half-time but this is in the balance. 
Referee Daniele Orsato blows his whistle and that is it for the first half at the Etihad. Real lead 4-3 on aggregate thanks to Rodrygo’s goal.
There are two added minutes at the end of this first half. Foden attempts to curl one into the top corner from outside the box in a central position but his effort misses the target.
Foden sends in a very dangerous cross from the right towards the far post and Carvajal does brilliantly defensively to head behind.
Lunin does not loom comfortable from De Bruyne’s delivery as he flaps at it but he gets away with it.
Rodrygo goes down and stays down. He is now receiving some treatment after a collision with De Bruyne. No foul was given and looking at the replays that was the right call as there was no foul, just two players coming together.
Carvajal fouls Grealish and is booked, which means if Real win tonight he will be suspended for the first leg of the semi-final.
Haaland sends a pass through to Grealish. Rudiger does well to come across and put Grealish off. Grealish’s effort deflects off Rudiger and behind for a corner, which Real clear. Grealish could have taken that shot on slightly earlier and, if he had, Rudiger may not have been able to get a touch on it.
De Bruyne lets rip from distance again but his left-footed strike was always rising and sails over the bar.
Grealish shoots towards goal from just inside the Real box and it deflects off Carvajal and behind for a corner. Initially referee Daniele Orsato looked like he was about to award a goal-kick but rightly gives the corner, which Real clear.
Valverde has a great chance on the right-hand side of the Manchester City box but instead of shooting, he tries to find a cross which is intercepted. After his superb goal last week, why did Valverde not shoot?
Good save from Lunin. De Bruyne is afforded way too much space and time on the right just outside the box. He tries to find the far corner but Lunin makes a decent save to his right to parry it behind for a corner. 
Carvajal limps back into his own box after a knock. Real initially clear but Manchester City keep it alive. The cross is sent to the far post where again Haaland wins the header but Lunin makes an easy save.
Frankly ridiculous antics from Dani Carvajal: first the Real right-back forces an interruption in play as he writhes in mortal agony on the halfway line, then he sprints into the box like Noah Lyles to defend the corner. City supporters do not, it would be fair to say, care for his cynicism.
After neat play from Vinicius Junior, the ball falls at the feet of Carvajal on the edge of the box. He takes a touch, perhaps takes too long, and his shot is well-blocked.
Manuel Akanji has been City’s “inverted” full-back in the first half, moving into central midfield and picking passes. He has set away Kevin De Bruyne twice, including the chance that led to Erling Haaland hitting the bar. That ball down the inside right channel is one where City could have some joy, with de Bruyne able to get behind Nacho and Ferland Mendy
It is always quite an experience to sit in front of a row of Spanish radio commentators on an occasion such as this. Their excitement at that Rodyrgo strike was on a par with the legendary call by Victor Hugo Morales for Diego Maradona’s ‘Goal of the Century’ against England, starting when Jude Bellingham picked the ball out of the evening sky with the perfect first touch. The noise has still not relented.
Manchester City should be level. De Bruyne once again finds himself on the right-hand side of the box and Lunin parries the cross away. The ball is then crossed back in and Haaland wins the header again. His effort comes back off the bar and Bernardo cannot control the rebound as it goes behind for a goal-kick.
How did that not go in for Man City… 🫣📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK #UCL pic.twitter.com/839nAAdXWz
Chance for Haaland. Grealish just about keeps it in play at the byline and Bernardo comes onto the ball and crosses it first time. Haaland meets the cross but he cannot keep his header down and it goes over.
Manchester City immediately have three corners in quick succession, including after Lunin tips over De Bruyne’s delivery directly from the corner. Real Madrid eventually are able to clear.
Real lead but will it stand? Vinicius Junior plays it across to Rodrygo, whose first shot is saved by Ederson but slams home at the second attempt.
Looking at the replays Vinicius Junior was being played miles onside by Walker before playing the ball across to Rodrygo. Real lead 1-0 on the night, 4-3 on aggregate.
Hey Jude was playing before kick-off – and the opening goal is all about Jude Bellingham. What a touch to kill a hopeful punt forward. With that touch of class, Real were on the attack and Rodrygo finished off the move. Eduardo had already tested Ederson before the opener, so it was coming. The Brazilian saved Rodrygo’s first effort superbly but the rebound was stabbed in.
Rodrygo gives Real Madrid the lead at the Etihad! 🤩📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK #UCL pic.twitter.com/90xbbybexj
Real have their first opportunity of the night. In a similar position to where he had a shot deflected in last week, Camavinga shoots with his left from around 25 yards out but Ederson gets down to his right to make the save.
First opening for Manchester City. De Bruyne sends it in from the right-hand side of the box but his ball across is straight into the hands of Lunin. 
No chances for either side so far. It has been quite a slow and tentative start to this second leg, in stark contrast to the first leg last week. By this point Bernardo Silva had already given Manchester City the lead in Madrid.
There are a number of players on both sides that with a booking tonight, if their teams go through will miss the first leg of the semi-finals, which includes Jude Bellingham.
We are under way at the Etihad. Will it be Manchester City or Real Madrid booking their place in the semi-finals?
Both sides have emerged from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off as the Champions League anthem rings around the Etihad.
It is a tense atmosphere at the Etihad. There is expectation but City fans know how close it was last week. It could be a long evening (with no away goals anymore) Supporters wave black flags on the bottom tier and a huge banner reading Love This City is unfurled as ‘Hey Jude’ is sung.
“We will have to try and impose our game”Pep Guardiola looks ahead to a huge #UCL clash with Real Madrid… 👀📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK 🎙️ @julesbreach pic.twitter.com/DXBDKcx4Zi
Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Foden, Grealish, Haaland. 
Substitutes: Ortega, Stones, Ake, Doku, Kovacic, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Carson, Bobb, Lewis.
Real Madrid: Lunin, Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy, Camavinga, Kroos, Valverde, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior.
Substitutes: Miltao, Modric, Joselu, Vazquez, Ceballos, Garcia, Diaz, Guler, Arrizabalaga, Gonzalez Perez.
‘He believes he’s meant to be in these positions’ 🤩@JoleonLescott and @rioferdy5 take a look at England’s gems Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden… 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK 🎙️ @laura_woodsy pic.twitter.com/lyM6tPP4qp
In attendance at the Etihad tonight is Ireland rugby head coach Andy Farrell:
Over in Germany it is also all square between Bayern Munich and Arsenal. It is 2-2 going into the second leg at the Allianz Arena and you can follow all the action from Bavaria live here.
How do you think tonight’s game will go? Will it be Manchester City or Real Madrid who progress through to the semi-finals? Remember you can have your say in the comments section at the bottom of the blog.
🤍💜 #Madridistas x #UCL 💜🤍 pic.twitter.com/WZ3qHRzoWV
Ahead of tonight’s match at the Etihad, some of the Real Madrid fans have taken in a visit of Old Trafford. Interesting choice…
Real Madrid fans preparing for tonight’s game by visiting Old Trafford 😅(via @defcentral) pic.twitter.com/OOw0UFQNbG
📍 We’re here!#UCL pic.twitter.com/Qs2vOx5O9o
Having a bet on today’s match? First take a look at these free bets and betting offers.
What a welcome! 🩵 #ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/t4wA0wIk7W
👕 All set in our dressing room!#UCL pic.twitter.com/UHRo1J8dLu
Pep Guardiola was weighing up whether Kyle Walker was a risk to break down after his hamstring injury when deciding his team. But the England full-back, against Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, is a gamble worth taking and he is starting tonight.
He also gets the armband, with Kevin De Bruyne from the leadership group also in the starting line-up. Uefa’s formation has KDB as a deep-lying central midfielder but it could well be Bernardo Silva. We’ll see. As expected, Nacho comes in for Real as Aurélien Tchouaméni is suspended. 
Three changes for tonight’s hosts.
Pep Guardiola is boosted with the return of Walker and Ederson. Walker returns to the starting line-up after recovering from the hamstring injury he suffered on international duty last month. 
They replace Stones and Ortega who drop to the bench, whole De Bruyne is preferred to Kovacic in central midfield.
Your City side to face Real Madrid 🩵XI | Ederson, Walker (C), Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, HaalandSUBS | Ortega Moreno, Carson, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Doku, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis#ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/2NtHEk7XTt
📋✅ Our starting 𝗫𝗜!🆚 @ManCity#UCL pic.twitter.com/L1loYbnjcV
As is often the case, the visitors go early with their team news. 
Carlo Ancelotti makes one enforced change from the first leg last week. Nacho comes in for the suspended Tchouameni.
Centre-backs David Alaba and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois are long-term absentees.
A place in the Champions League semi-finals is at stake tonight at the Etihad as Manchester City take on Real Madrid in the quarter-finals second leg. 
The first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu produced a dramatic 3-3 draw as the game swung one way and then the other to set up tonight’s second leg with all to play for.
Manchester City won the treble last season, including the Champions League for the first time. They are currently top of the Premier League and into the FA Cup semi- finals and Bernardo Silva is eager to replicate their achievements of last season. “We want to create the legacy. We want two Trebles in a row,” said Silva.
“We want four Premier Leagues in a row. We want the Champions League twice in a row. If we win two Trebles in a row that would be legacy. [But] in one week we could be out of all the competitions. But we are fighting.”
Manchester City are set to be boosted by the returns of Kyle Walker, who has missed City’s last four matches, and Nathan Ake. Having picked up a yellow card in the first few minutes of the first leg last week, Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended tonight.
They also remain without Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba.
Between the two legs, Manchester City prepared for tonight’s game with a 5-1 home win over Luton which took them to the summit of the Premier League. Real Madrid were in La Liga action away at Mallorca on Saturday where they won 1-0 and they are currently eight points clear at the top with seven games remaining.
These two sides met in the semi-finals of the competition a year ago and it was all square at 1-1 after the first leg in Madrid. However Manchester City obliterated Real 4-0 at the Etihad to cruise into the final, where they beat Inter Milan 1-0 to seal their first Champions League crown.
Will the second leg produce the same drama as the first? Will Real avenge their heavy defeat at the Etihad last season? Who will book their place in the semi-finals?
The next few hours will provide the answers to all those questions. Follow all the action with us here.
Team news to follow shortly.