These sides have met at different stages of the Champions League over recent seasons and the majority of these encounters have been  packed with goalmouth action.

Manchester City have seen BTTS in each of their last 5 games across all competitions, Pep Guardiola’s side just can’t seem to get over their defensive struggles this season as a result of being too open on the transition. This run of games includes seeing BTTS in each of their last 2 Champions League games against Club Brugge and PSG.

The picture looks a bit brighter for Real Madrid despite Carlo Ancelotti’s side also finding themselves in the play-offs of the Champions League. Los Blancos have seen BTTS in each of their last 2 games and visit Manchester with a hefty backlogue of absences, particularly in defence which could really open this game up.

Phil Foden has shown his best form in a Manchester City shirt this season in the Champions League. He’s registered 4 goal contributions across his 7 appearances in the competition (3 goals, 1 assist) whilst averaging 1.47 shots on target per 90.

Foden had a shot on target in Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Club Brugge to secure their passage to the play-offs and can add to that here against a depleted Real Madrid backline. Foden has had at least 1 shot on target in 6 of his 7 appearances in the competition with the exception coming away against PSG.

Domestically, Foden is averaging 0.92 shots on target per 90 across his 19 Premier League appearances this season. This average has improved as the season has gone on, particularly since the turn of the year where he really started finding some form.

Tchouameni is having to fill in at centre back for Real Madrid due to the absences they have in the backline at the moment. He’s committed 5 fouls across his 6 Champions League appearances this campaign (1.18 per 90).

Tchouameni is also averaging 0.93 fouls committed per 90 across his 18 La Liga appearances this season which is also a solid record, especially for a makeshift centre back. Tchouameni can be a bit rash from this position, he has a tendency to jump out of the backline and engage with the opposition in his more natural area in the centre of the pitch, often leaving Real light at the back and needing the Frenchman to commit a foul.

He’ll be up against Erling Haaland who no doubt will be aware of his occasional lack of positional discipline and look to play on that. Haaland is averaging 0.40 fouls won per 90 in the Champions League this season which isn’t standout but with Tchouameni up against him, we should see a rise in this metric.

Manchester City are having a real issue in stopping threatening transitions that lead to their opponents having attempts at goal. This was even clear to see in Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Leyton Orient, even the League One side were able to find gaps in the City defence to exploit.

Ederson is averaging 3.00 saves per game in the Champions League this season and was called to action on 4 occasions in Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Club Brugge, to secure progression to the play-off round. Club Brugge were really effective in the timing and speed of their attacks which meant Ederson had to bail City out on a few occasions.

Real Madrid boast some of the best attacking talent in world football, namely in Mbappe (2.44 shots on target per 90 in CL) and Vinicius Jr (2.17 shots on target per 90 in CL). This pair could draw 3 saves from Ederson on their own as well as the likes of Bellingham and Rodrygo who should also offer an attacking threat which Ederson will have to be alert to.

Vinicius Jr is enjoying another stellar campaign for Real Madrid in the Champions League with 8 goal contributions across his 6 appearances in the competition (7 goals, 1 assist). Vinicius scored a brace in Real Madrid’s most recent Champions League game at the Bernabeu against RB Salzburg.

He’s recorded a goal contribution in 4 of his 6 Champions League appearances this season with the exceptions coming against Lille and Stuttgart much earlier in the campaign. This is usually the time of season in which Vinicius Jr really comes alive in this competition and you get the feeling that he’s got something to prove on this stage after missing out on the Ballon D’or to Manchester City star Rodri.

Manchester City are without a clean sheet in 5 games across all competitions, showing that there are still defensive frailties which can be exploited by the Galacticos here with Vinicius Jr well placed to record at least 1 goal contribution here.

Bellingham wins fouls galore, he’s incredibly hard to dispossess when he lengthens his stride making him a clear target for the opposition to bring down. Manchester City don’t normally commit many fouls but the ones they do commit should involve Bellingham as the victim.

Bellingham is averaging 2.47 fouls won per 90 across his 8 Champions League appearances. After a slow start to the season, he’s really found some form which has seen his confidence improve and allowed the 21-year-old to be a lot more positive with the ball at his feet.

Bellingham is also averaging 2.43 fouls won per 90 across his 19 La Liga appearances showing that this high record stays consistent over a larger sample size.

It’s hard to trust Manchester City for a result at the moment, even the victories they are managing of late have looked unconvincing and arguably even down to a few kind strokes of luck. It’s hard to see where they get the upper hand against this Real Madrid side who are suffering with injuries but still maintain a potent threat with their front 4.

Real Madrid have only lost 2 of their last 17 games across all competitions, this run includes not losing in the Champions League since 27th November where they lost to Liverpool at Anfield. By contrast, Manchester City have lost 2 of their last 5 in all competitions and as mentioned, haven’t looked too convincing in defeat.

The space on offer in Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Club Brugge will alarm Pep Guardiola, he still hasn’t quite come up with a solution to stop the opposition getting through his side so easily when the ball changes hands. This is something that Real Madrid can take advantage of in avoiding heavy defeat at the Etihad Stadium in this encounter.

1 thing that really stands out with Real Madrid this season in the Champions League is how quick they’ve been to lose their discipline. Only Bologna have collected more cards than the 24 Real Madrid have managed in the competition this season.

This means that Real Madrid are averaging 3.0 cards per game in the Champions League, a marked increase on their league average of just 1.56 per game – the lowest in La Liga. This increase suggests that the Champions League has been a real battle for Carlo Ancelotti’s side who picked up the majority of these cautions in away games.