In the last three seasons, the winner of this tie has gone on to win the tournament.

It's still pretty early days to be suggesting something like that, but could it happen this year?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

• Manchester City took 148 shots in the Champions League league phase - only Bayern Munich (185) and PSG (149) took more.
• City conceded 14 goals – only Feyenoord (21) conceded more among teams that reached the knock-out stage.
• Real Madrid faced 115 shots – only Feyenoord (125) faced more among teams that reached the knock-out stage (City faced 88).
• Real had the worst defence among teams that reached the knock-out stage in terms of Expected Goals (15.1 xG Against) – but overperformed slightly, conceding 12 goals (City’s xGA was 11.2, conceded 14).

Andros Townsend
Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Everyone knows what Real Madrid are like in the Champions League, so you really need to be going to the Santiago Bernabeu with a lead if possible. Yes it is only the first leg tonight but it is so important that Man City get a win tonight if they can.

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Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has defended his club's decision to boycott last year's Ballon d'Or ceremony.

The 65-year-old former Chelsea, Juventus and AC Milan coach said: "I don't think it was the wrong decision.

"We thought Vini was the winner of the Ballon D'Or. It doesn't mean we don't respect Rodri because he is a fantastic player. I think Rodri deserved to win it the year before."

As if there wasn't enough spice in this rivalry, this time we've got the added element of Rodri.

Of course, Manchester City's midfielder will not feature this evening as he continues to recover from injury but he will certainly be in the minds of the fans after the controversy around last year's Ballon d'Or.

The Spaniard won the prestigious accolade after Real Madrid snubbed the ceremony because they felt Vinicius Jr deserved the award.

Real's move was widely criticised, with those against believing it was petty and showed a lack of respect.

City defender Ruben Dias and manager Pep Guardiola did not entertain questions on the supposed 'beef' after the incident at their press conference but no doubt the fans will be all over that one tonight...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne has been directly involved in eight goals in eight Champions League appearances against Real Madrid (four goals, four assists).

It is the joint most by any player in the competition's history (also eight by Giovane Elber) and he is also the only player to score and assist in a Champions League game against Real on multiple occasions (February 2020 and April 2022).

Guillem Balague
Spanish football journalist speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live

These are two teams who, at the moment, if they described their seasons, they would be talking about their problems. They're not 'stable', I think that was the word used by Pep Guardiola yesterday.

I think it will be one of those spectacles that will be a lot to do with the quality but even more, because of the way the season is going, on their mistakes and their problems.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti says it is a "nightmare" preparing to face a Pep Guardiola team because the Spaniard has "ideas that make you think".

Manchester City and Real will rekindle their modern rivalry later on Tuesday with the first leg of their Champions League play-off at Etihad Stadium.

The two sides will be meeting for the fourth time in four seasons - becoming just the fourth fixture to reach that milestone.

"It seems like it's a Clasico because we have played each other a lot of times in this competition," Ancelotti said.

"It will be a difficult game, hard to predict. It will depend a lot on the attitude and confidence of the teams. It's such a high-level game you have to be your best at every aspect.

"They are one of the best teams in Europe and they have the best manager out there so I think it's the most difficult game we can face - regardless of form."

Image source, Getty Images

Four times in four seasons. This really is becoming a classic Champions League rivalry.

Let's take a look at how this trilogy of ties have been decided in recent years.

Beginning with the 2021-22 season when City beat Real 4-3 at the Etihad in the first leg of the semi-final before the Champions League's serial winners produced a stunning late comeback as City collapsed in the second leg to win 3-1 and progress to the final 6-5 on aggregate.

City were two goals ahead on aggregate going into the 90th minute before Rodrygo scored twice to level the tie and Karim Benzema scored from the penalty spot to send his side through to the final, where they beat Liverpool to win the trophy.

Image source, Getty Images

In 2022-23 the pair met again in the semi-finals. This time settling on a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu before Pep Guardiola's City produced an utter masterclass back at the Etihad, winning 4-0 to book their place in the final.

Bernardo Silva scored twice before Manuel Akanji's deflected header and Julian Alvarez's late strike.

City went on to win a historic Treble, beating Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

Image source, Getty Images

The most recent meeting between the pair ended in heartbreak for Manchester City.

The two sides met in the quarter-finals and played out a 3-3 draw at the Bernabeu before Carlo Ancelotti parked the bus at the Etihad and neither side could find a winner in extra time with the tie going to penalties.

Benardo Silva's attempted panenka was easily saved by Andriy Lunin and Real booked their place in the semi-finals, going on to win the tournament against Borussia Dortmund.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

More from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to Amazon Prime about opponents Real Madrid: "Since I was a little boy, since I was born in a little town in Catalunya, what can I say, Madrid have always had unbelievable strikers. Since the 60s, 70s, 80s until now, they've had Cristiano and Bale, Di Maria and Butragueno, Higuain and Robben - they have always had incredible attackers. That is why Madrid have always been up there in all competitions."

On Carlo Ancelotti saying Madrid have a 'defensive emergency': "It is what I have had all season. I understand completely. They would be better with Militao, Alaba, Rudiger, Vasquez and the others yes, but it is what has happened with us too."

BBC Sounds

Don’t forget you can also take 5 Live commentary of Manchester City v Real Madrid along with you on the BBC Sounds app.

Or if you’d like to tune in at home via your smart speaker, simply say to your device "Play Radio 5 Live”.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Defender Ruben Dias says Manchester City can "still achieve something beautiful" and rescue "the most difficult" season.

Pep Guardiola's side host defending champions Real Madrid in the Champions League play-off first leg tonight at 20:00 GMT after finishing 22nd in the group stage.

Victory over the two legs would see City qualify for the last 16 and a tie against either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen.

They have also faltered in their Premier League defence and sit fifth, 15 points behind leaders Liverpool.

"This has been the most difficult season since I have been here but I am a firm believer that even in the most difficult moments, you can still achieve something beautiful," said the Portugal centre-back, who is one of City's vice-captains.

"We know how difficult it will be to get through but we have loads of guns in the dressing room. We just have to use them in the right way."

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to Amazon Prime: "The first game of two we have to play. I am so excited and happy to be here and to live this experience again against an exceptional team. Hopefully we can perform at our best.

"We have a lot of problems, everybody knows that we [have] struggled. Let's not talk about what we need to do to get back to what we were, this season we are not that. Today it is about performing at our best."

On John Stones: "He has played many times there alongside Rodri. He is an experienced guy and has played well there in the last games. I continue with that and I am happy that some other players are back."

On Jack Grealish: "Jack had to compete with our others wingers in recent weeks but today for the game that we want to play I chose him. Just because I decide to choose the other ones it does not mean that I am against one guy or the other.

"There are players that give you something that you require for certain games, and it is what I saw in the training sessions and many other things."

Right, let's properly focus on the big one this evening as Manchester City host Real Madrid...

The first of the knockout play-offs first leg matches is over as PSG breeze past Brest.

They have one foot in the last 16.

Image source, Getty Images

Previous meetings between these two sides have come in the latter stages of the tournament with two semi-finals and one quarter-final match-up in the last three years.

But, after poor league-phases campaigns under this new format, Manchester City and Real Madrid find themselves battling it out for a place in the last-16.

Real finished 11th while City were 22nd.

The luck of the draw? These two teams aren't so sure.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

This is the fourth season in a row Manchester City have met Real Madrid in the Champions League.

The previous three have been two semis and a quarter-final.

This time around they are meeting only to secure a last-16 encounter with either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen. Arsenal, Inter Milan or Juventus are among those who could lie in wait in the quarter-finals.

It is a measure of how hard both clubs found it to hit form in the early months of the season.

Real finished 11th in the 36-team table. City were down in 22nd.

But Real boss Carlo Ancelotti says his side and City only have themselves to blame.

"It surprises me we have to play this game," he said. "It would normally be a semi-final or a quarter. But it's our fault."

Chris Waddle
Former Newcastle & England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Real Madrid will cause a lot of problems with the pace of the front three plus Jude Bellingham dropping into the spaces behind Kylian Mbappe.

Man City will be wary of the pace. If they play high they are asking for trouble.