Manchester City the Latest Arch-Rival of Real Madrid in Europe

Real Madrid drew 3-3 with Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday. The tie still hangs in the balance, but one thing is for certain: the Cityzens are one of Los Blancos’ biggest European rivals.

Manchester City is facing Real Madrid for the third successive year in the Champions League, and fourth time in the last five season. England’s most successful team in recent times, and Europe’s most successful team of all time, have thus repeatedly clashed with each other of late. Real has won the Champions League a staggering 14 times, while the Cityzens won their maiden title last year. While history is firmly on the Los Blancos‘ side, Manchester City’s recent record across all competitions makes them a formidable proposition to any other team in the world.

Real Has Had Great Rivalries With Other Clubs in the Past

Real formed a great rivalry with Bayern Munich in the first two decades of the century. Bayern prevailed on a few occasions – most famously in the 2001 semifinal, when they beat Los Blancos over two legs – but Real is the more dominant team in that rivalry. Real Madrid also formed great rivalries with Juventus and Liverpool in the 2010s. They faced Liverpool in two Champions League finals in the space of four years. They also faced Juventus on a few occasions – a rivalry that was once again dominated by Real. Juventus, however, beat Real Madrid 3-1 in a scintillating second leg of their semifinal in 2003, when Pavel Nedvěd had one of the best matches of his career. The Bianconeri have been under-achievers in Europe’s premier club competition, with Real beating them on a couple of Champions League finals in the last 25 years. Real’s city-rivals Atlético Madrid also clashed with their more glamorous neighbours twice in the space of three years in the Champions League final. Yet again, it was Los Blancos who came up trumps and managed to win a couple of titles by beating Atleti. Quite surprisingly, Real has never faced their arch-rivals Barcelona in a Champions League final, though that could change this season should both clubs reach the showpiece.

Real Madrid Has Had Share of Spoils of Late Versus Manchester City

Real succeeded in beating Manchester City after an exhilarating second leg win over them in 2022. However, the Cityzens turned the tables on Carlo Ancelotti’s men by scoring four goals past them at home in last year’s semifinal second leg. They will battle it out next week once again to decide a spot in the last four, with Pep Guardiola’s side being the marginal favourites to win at home. However, it is by no means a foregone conclusion, as Real Madrid simply cannot be the underdogs going into any European tie. Ancelotti might very well go on to win his fifth Champions League title as a manager. Still, Manchester City has been the most consistent team in Europe during the last 6-7 years, and will take some beating. It will also not be an overstatement to say that the team that goes on to win the tie, will also be the favourites to win the Champions League titles.