Pep Guardiola is gearing up for a showdown at the Estadio Bernabeu, where Manchester City will face off against Real Madrid in the Champions League. This will be the Citizens’ 15th meeting with the Spanish giants since 2012-13, with Guardiola looking to prove his team’s worth on this iconic stage.
While Guardiola had a strong record against Madrid in his early days as a manager, winning six and drawing two of his first nine away games, he has struggled in his last four visits, with two draws and two losses. City also suffered defeats home and away against Madrid last season, losing 6-3 on aggregate.
Despite these recent setbacks, Guardiola sees the Bernabeu as a place where his team can shine once again. He believes that the stadium offers the perfect opportunity for his players to prove themselves and replicate past successes.
Guardiola, who has faced Madrid 27 times before, winning 48% of those matches, will reunite with former player Xabi Alonso, now the manager of Madrid. The talk ahead of the game has centered around Alonso’s position at the club following a recent loss in LaLiga.
Guardiola expressed sympathy for Alonso and emphasized the challenges of managing top clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid. He acknowledged the pressure to win in such environments and highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong position as a manager.
As City prepares to take on Madrid once again, Guardiola remains confident in his team’s abilities and is eager to see them rise to the occasion at the Estadio Bernabeu.
