Manchester City and Real Madrid: A Rivalry Renewed
Manchester City and Real Madrid will once again clash in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, a result of their failure to finish in the top eight of the new league phase. This face-off has become a recurring theme in the competition, with the two giants producing some unforgettable matches over the years. Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, has even dubbed this encounter a "derby," a sentiment that was first established during their initial meeting in 2012.
The First Meeting: An Electric Night at the Bernabeu
On September 18, 2012, Manchester City visited the legendary Bernabeu stadium for their first-ever Champions League clash with Real Madrid. The match was a spectacle of drama and talent. City, trailing 1-2, saw substitute Edin Dzeko stun the crowd by putting the visitors in front. Real Madrid’s Marcelo, with a stunning curling effort, equalized the match. City regained the lead with a brilliant free-kick from Aleksandar Kolorov, but Karim Benzema, yet another substitute, tied it up with a fierce shot. The game was far from over, as Cristiano Ronaldo’s decisive goal in the 88th minute secured a 3-2 victory for Real Madrid, with manager Jose Mourinho celebrating with a knee-slide.
Real Madrid’s Starting Lineup: Then and Now
Iker Casillas was the legendary goalkeeper that night, captaining Real to their ‘Decima’ Champions League win in 2014. After 725 appearances for Real, he moved to Porto, winning the 2018 Portuguese league title. A heart attack in 2019 led to his retirement in 2020. He now works as a commentator in Spain.
Alvaro Arbeloa featured in Champions League-winning squads for Real in 2014 and 2016. He made a brief return to the Premier League at West Ham but retired in 2017. He now manages Real’s youth team.
Raphael Varane excelled at Real, helping the club win four Champions League titles. In 2021, he moved to Manchester United, winning an EFL Cup and FA Cup before a knee injury forced his retirement in 2024.
Pepe left Real in 2017 after 10 years, joining Besiktas and later returning to Porto. He retired at 41, still competing internationally for Portugal.
Marcelo remained with Real until 2022, winning 25 trophies, including five Champions Leagues. After a brief spell at Olympiacos, he returned to Fluminense, winning the Copa Libertadores, before retiring in 2025.
Sami Khedira overcame an ACL injury to start the 2014 Champions League final but left for Juventus in 2015, staying for six years. He retired in 2021 after a brief stint at Hertha Berlin.
Xabi Alonso won three successive Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich before retiring in 2017. He now manages Leverkusen, achieving a historic league and cup double and a record 51-game unbeaten run.
Michael Essien had a loan spell from Chelsea, playing for Real and later AC Milan, Panathinaikos, Persib Bandung, and Sabail. He is currently the assistant manager of FC Nordsjaelland.
Manchester City’s Starting Lineup: Then and Now
Joe Hart was City’s No. 1 for two Premier League title wins but was dropped by Pep Guardiola in 2016. He had loan spells at Torino and West Ham before moving to Burnley in 2018. He retired in 2024 after three years with Celtic.
Gaël Clichy had a forgettable spell at City, returning to Serie A with Roma. He spent three years at Roma before a series of moves in Brazil, retiring in 2023.
Vincent Kompany led City to four Premier League titles before returning to Anderlecht as player-manager in 2019. He managed Burnley to promotion and relegation before taking over at Bayern Munich in 2024, where he currently sits top of the Bundesliga.
Matija Nastasic was touted as a future star but was impacted by injuries. He left City for Schalke and later played for Fiorentina, Mallorca, and Leganes.
Vincent Kompany (again) led City to four Premier League titles before a successful managerial career at Anderlecht and Burnley. He currently manages Bayern Munich.
Javi Garcia left City for Zenit Saint Petersburg and later returned to Spain with Real Betis. He retired in 2022 and was an assistant manager at Benfica.
Yaya Touré had a fantastic performance that night, a precursor to his Player of the Year campaign in 2014. After leaving City, he played for Olympiacos and Qingdao Huanghai, retiring and coaching at various clubs.
Carlos Tevez said goodbye to City in 2013, joining Juventus and helping them win two Serie A titles. He returned to Boca Juniors and later played in China, retiring in 2022. He has had brief managerial roles at Rosario Central and Independiente.
Roberto Mancini: From City to International Glory
Roberto Mancini managed City from 2009 to 2013, winning the Premier League and FA Cup. After a spell at Galatasaray and Inter, he led Italy to Euro 2020 glory, setting an international record of 37 matches unbeaten. He resigned from the Italian job in 2023 and briefly managed Saudi Arabia but left due to poor results.
The Future of the Clash
This upcoming match between Manchester City and Real Madrid promises to be another chapter in a storied rivalry. Both teams have evolved significantly since their first meeting in 2012, but the intensity and drama are sure to remain. Fans can tune in to TNT Sports and discovery+ to witness this thrilling encounter.
