Manchester City are facing the tallest of Champions League tasks as they bid to overturn a 3-0 deficit and knock out Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola has said his side will have to produce the “perfect game” if they are to turnaround the tie after being outclassed in the Spanish capital last week. A first-half hat-trick from Fede Valverde has left Real Madrid in complete control and already eyeing a quarter-final berth, and Alvaro Arbeloa welcomes back Kylian Mbappe to his squad, too.
It could have been worse for Manchester City, with Gianluigi Donnarumma saving a penalty to ensure they did not completely unravel. Guardiola has stressed that he still has hope that his team can produce a stunning comeback, but only three teams have ever won a Champions League knockout tie after losing the first leg 3-0.
Follow all of the latest from the Etihad Stadium with our live blog below:
Read MoreReal Madrid beware, Man City have the blueprint in pursuit of ‘the perfect game’
Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham back in Real Madrid squad to face Man City
Pep Guardiola: Manchester City must produce ‘perfect game’ to turn around Real Madrid tie
Manchester City vs Real Madrid live
- Manchester City host Real Madrid in second leg of Champions League tie | Live on Amazon Prime with kick off at 8pm GMT
- Pep Guardiola's side trail 3-0 after first leg and seeking remarkable comeback
- Visitors in position of strength and welcome back Kylian Mbappe to squad
- Manchester City XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Rodri; Cherki, Silva, Reijnders, Doku; Haaland.
- Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Garcia; Valverde, Thiago, Tchouameni; Guler, Diaz, Vinicius Jr.
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa explains what they need to do tonight
19:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle"We know and are very aware of the difficulty of the match and the opponent we have in front of us,” Arbeloa said. “Of the players, the coach, and the stadium where we are. We cannot have anything else in mind if we want to win the match, which is the goal. We have to perform at a very high level, at our best level, as in the first leg, even more so. That is the goal: to go out and aim for that performance, that level of commitment, solidarity, effort, sacrifice, and then cause them a lot of trouble, as we were able to do in the first leg."
Why Jude Bellingham is not involved tonight
19:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleJude Bellingham travelled with the Real Madrid squad to Manchester but is not yet able to be involved this evening after injury.
"Bellingham wanted to come with his team-mates," Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa said.
"I'm very happy to see him getting closer to the team. It is important to be around his team-mates, during the team-talk and at half-time he'll be one of the leaders as he always is."
Marc Guehi dropped by Manchester City
19:09 , Richard Jolly at the Etihad StadiumPep Guardiola sprang some surprises last week and has provided some more today. Marc Guehi is dropped for the rematch with Real Madrid, which at least stops Fede Valverde juggling the ball over him to score. Antoine Semenyo is out, too. Tijjani Reijnders starts, which he probably should have done in the Bernabeu. It's interesting, too, that Matheus Nunes is back and will be up against Vinicius Junior.
Hope for Manchester City?
19:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleOnly three times previously has a 3-0 first-leg deficit been overcome in the Champions League, with Manchester City looking to follow Deportivo la Coruna (against AC Milan), Roma and Liverpool (both against Barcelona) in completing a comeback.
Team news - Manchester City
18:48 , Harry Latham-CoylePep Guardiola freshens up his full-backs with Matheus Nunes and Rayan Ait-Nouri into the starting side.
Manchester City XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Rodri; Cherki, Silva, Reijnders, Doku; Haaland.
Your City side to take on Real Madrid! 🩵
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 17, 2026
XI | Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Cherki, Doku, Haaland
SUBS | Trafford, Stones, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Guéhi, Savinho, O'Reilly, Semenyo, Foden, Lewis pic.twitter.com/5rjwLkXLWX
Team news - Real Madrid
18:41 , Harry Latham-CoyleKylian Mbappe is back on the bench for Real Madrid, with Fran Garcia in for the absent Ferland Mendy at left-back.
Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Garcia; Valverde, Thiago, Tchouameni; Guler, Diaz, Vinicius Jr.
📋✅ Our starting XI!
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 17, 2026
🆚 @ManCity pic.twitter.com/1tB8EsVNry
Pep Guardiola hits back after being ‘massacred’ for Champions League selection
18:35 , Harry Latham-CoyleWe should get team news in the next little while, with plenty of eyes on what Pep Guardiola does after copping some flak for his selection in the Spanish capital.
Pep Guardiola hits back after being ‘massacred’ for Champions League selection
Antonio Rudiger relishing latest Erling Haaland tussle
18:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleErling Haaland could be key to Manchester City's hopes of turning the tie around, and Real defender Antonio Rudiger is relishing another contest with the Norway forward, with the pair having become familiar foes in recent years.
"Players like Haaland - it's a huge pleasure to play against this type of player," Rudiger said on the eve of the match in Manchester.
"I like the physical battle, I want it and need it, the same as him. I'm looking forward to it.
"He's a world-class striker, very strong, and I like these type of duels."
Rudiger acknowledged his combative approach as he addressed recent claims from Getafe defender Diego Rico about his conduct.
Rico said Rudiger committed an "assault" against him in a challenge earlier this month.
"In slow motion it looks terrible but in the action itself and also what the player said, it was like I almost killed him," Rudiger said.
"He doesn't need to exaggerate because if I'd had the intention to do that he wouldn't have stood up.
"I don't justify it but the way he spoke after the game was like I killed him, but he was running afterwards. We all know I like to be tough on the pitch but I still have boundaries. I am a human being."
Rodri remains defiant on Man City’s dwindling title chances: ‘We’re still alive’
18:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleRodri insisted that more dropped points were not the end of Manchester City’s title chances.
Rodri stays defiant on Man City’s title chances: ‘We’re still alive’
Pep Guardiola names player he should have dropped after costly draw at West Ham
18:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s not just in Europe where Manchester City’s trophy hopes took a big blow last week - Lawrence Ostlere was at the London Stadium to watch them slip to a draw with struggling West Ham, with Pep Guardiola offering an intriguing comment afterwards.
Pep Guardiola names player he should have dropped after costly draw at West Ham
Why Manchester City could face Uefa punishment for cancelling training session ahead of Champions League tie
17:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleManchester City, meanwhile, risked the wrath of (or at least a slap on the wrist from) Uefa after cancelling a training session on match eve.
Why Manchester City could face Uefa punishment for cancelling training session
Kylian Mbappe ready for Real Madrid return but Jude Bellingham out of Manchester City second leg
17:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleReal Madrid will get one of their protagonists back in the form of Kylian Mbappe tonight - but Jude Bellingham remains absent:
Mbappe ready for Real Madrid return but Bellingham out of Manchester City second leg
Federico Valverde caps superb night for Real Madrid’s understudies as Pep Guardiola gets it wrong
17:35 , Harry Latham-CoyleHere, meanwhile, is a look back at the first leg, with Richard Jolly in attendance at the Bernabeu to see the Real Madrid understudies take on leading roles..
Valverde caps superb night for Real Madrid’s understudies as Guardiola gets it wrong
Real Madrid beware, Man City have the blueprint in pursuit of ‘the perfect game’
17:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe prospects of progress for Manchester City seem slim, but Richard Jolly heard yesterday how they have a plan to rock Real Madrid:
Real Madrid beware, Man City have the blueprint for ‘the perfect game’
Pep Guardiola: Manchester City must produce ‘perfect game’ to turn around Real Madrid tie
17:15 , Richard JollyPep Guardiola said Manchester City need to produce “the perfect game” to overturn a 3-0 deficit and knock Real Madrid out of the Champions League.
Only three teams have ever won a Champions League knockout tie after losing the first leg 3-0 – Deportivo la Coruna against AC Milan, and both Roma and Liverpool against Barcelona – and Guardiola admitted his side face a “massive task” after last week’s defeat in the Bernabeu.
Guardiola is confident his team have the ability to score enough goals, citing knockout matches in the past when they have scored four or more in the Champions League – including two against Real Madrid – but feels they probably cannot afford to concede.
Pep Guardiola: Manchester City need ‘perfect game’ to turn around Real Madrid tie
English clubs face a Champions League wipeout – but one thing can save them
17:05 , Miguel DelaneyThe Manchester City players have already taken in one message from Pep Guardiola, as they attempt what amounts to one of the greatest challenges in Champions League history. Bernardo Silva articulated some of it when he spoke on Monday before their last-16 second leg against Real Madrid.
“With one goal, the atmosphere of the ground will change,” said the Portuguese midfielder.
There is more to that comment than just an appeal to the crowd. The mythos of the Champions League remontada has now become so pronounced – to the point the Spanish name for grand comebacks has become commonplace – that there is a blueprint.
English clubs face a Champions League wipeout – but one thing can save them
Manchester City vs Real Madrid live
Monday 16 March 2026 14:11 , Harry Latham-CoyleOnly three times previously has a team come back from 3-0 down after the first leg of a Champions League tie to progress - can Manchester City be the fourth? It is a tall task facing Pep Guardiola’s side against Real Madrid after Fede Valverede’s hat-trick at the Bernabeu last week, but this competition has provided plenty of unexpected twists and turns in the past, and the hosts will hope for another.
Kick off is at 8pm GMT.
