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An intense rivalry between these two clubs has developed in recent seasons, making this one of the most explosive fixtures in European football. The latest chapter in their battle for supremacy commences at the Bernabéu on Wednesday evening, as these familiar opponents compete for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Only Bayern Munich and Juventus have beaten Real Madrid on more occasions in this competition than Manchester City, who registered their fifth victory over the LaLiga giants at the back end of last year. However, before their latest triumph in the Spanish capital, City lost each of their previous three meetings with Wednesday's opponents.
Real Madrid head into this one after edging past Celta Vigo last Friday evening, a result that keeps them within touching distance of league leaders Barcelona. To qualify for the last sixteen, Los Blancos did well to overcome a stubborn Benfica outfit who had earlier beaten them on the final matchday of the Champions League's opening phase.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola's men are currently enjoying an impressive run of form, having avoided defeat in each of their last eleven outings across all competitions. Madrid have been particularly strong on home soil this term, so Manchester City will need to improve on the standard of their recent away performances if they are to come away with a positive result on Wednesday night.
Real Madrid v Manchester City: Predictions
Both Teams to Score (Yes): 8/15 (bet365)
Over 2.5 Goals: (bet365): 8/13 (bet365)
Courtois to make 4+ saves: 4/5 (bet365)
Odds valid at the time of publication and may change.
Are we set for another classic encounter?
Recent matches between Real Madrid and Manchester City have consistently produced goals at both ends, and there is plenty of evidence that suggests we'll see the same outcome this time round.
Los Blancos have netted in 39 consecutive Champions League knockout fixtures on home soil, averaging 2.2 goals per match in the process. Indeed, most visiting teams find it virtually impossible to keep a clean sheet at the Bernabéu. Nevertheless, Manchester City boast immense attacking firepower. The Citizens have scored more goals from open play than any other side in this season's Champions League, while star striker Erling Haaland has already found the net on seven occasions.
As these two teams love to pile forward at every opportunity, don't be surprised if both manage to get on the scoresheet on Wednesday night.
Prediction: Both Teams to Score (Yes): 8/15 (bet365)
Explanation: This bet lands if Real Madrid and Manchester City both score at least once, regardless of the final result.
Goals galore
Whenever these two teams lock horns, the games tend to be open, end-to-end, and played at an extremely high tempo. Manchester City are renowned for creating positive scenarios in the final third following large spells of possession, while Real Madrid are one of the most effective counter-attacking sides on the planet. Two conflicting styles, but both are equally effective.
There will be an abundance of attacking talent on show, so we should expect plenty of goalmouth activity. Erling Haaland and Vinícius Júnior have registered a combined total of 63 shots in the competition so far, more than the entire number of attempts generated by Eintracht Frankfurt during the league phase.
For the reasons outlined above, it seems likely that this contest will witness a decent number of goals.
Prediction: Over 2.5 Goals: (bet365): 8/13 (bet365)
Explanation: This bet will land if there are three or more goals scored in the match.
Courtois to play a key role
Although they're used to dominating possession, Real Madrid are going to endure periods where Manchester City see a lot of the ball. This will inevitably lead to the visitors firing a significant amount of efforts at goal, so Thibaut Courtois can expect to be regularly called into action. Having made six or more saves in three of his team's last five matches, this won't be a new experience for the gifted Belgian international.
Courtois is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in Champions League history. Since the beginning of the 2022/23 campaign, he has conceded on just 39 occasions against an expected goals (xG) rate of 53.2, a better performance than any of his peers throughout that period. These stats not only prove Courtois' exceptional shot-stopping capabilities, but also tell us that opponents create plenty of high-quality chances when facing Real Madrid.
With City eager to secure a first-leg advantage, the former Chelsea number one could potentially be in for a busy evening.
Prediction: Courtois to make 4+ saves: 4/5 (bet365)
Explanation: This bet lands if Thibaut Courtois makes four or more saves during the match.
Real Madrid v Manchester City: Match result odds
Odds valid at the time of publication and may change.
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Odds valid at the time of publication and may change.