Actual Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes the winner of his aspect’s Champions League play-off conflict with Manchester Metropolis shall be among the many favourites to raise the trophy.
Actual and Metropolis are set to conflict for the fourth consecutive season in Europe’s elite membership competitors, with the primary leg in Manchester on Tuesday.
However the newest blockbuster showdown between groups extra accustomed to assembly within the latter levels is sooner than standard this time period after each misplaced three of their eight video games within the new-look league section.
Metropolis sneaked into the knockout levels due to a second-half fightback towards Membership Brugge of their closing match and have suffered a staggering fall from grace within the Premier League.
After an unprecedented run of 4 consecutive titles, Pep Guardiola’s males sit fourth within the desk, 15 factors adrift of leaders Liverpool.
Madrid are in pole place in a three-way title race in La Liga, forward of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, however have additionally struggled at occasions this season, hampered by a sequence of accidents to their defence.
Nonetheless, the victor within the tie between Actual and Metropolis has gone on to win the Champions League in every of the previous three seasons and Ancelotti expects the streak may proceed.
“Sure, essentially the most tough opponent, most essential opponent and towards the most effective supervisor,” Ancelotti mentioned at a pre-match press convention on Monday.
“I am satisfied the workforce that goes by on this tie will go very deep into the competitors.”
Metropolis received simply as soon as in 13 video games in a torrid spell between the tip of October and December.
Guardiola’s males have picked up barely in 2025, however their frailties have been nonetheless uncovered in a 5-1 thrashing by Arsenal of their final Premier League match.
Ancelotti expressed his shock at that run however believes Metropolis nonetheless have the gamers and coach to do injury to the Champions League holders.
“I proceed to suppose Metropolis is without doubt one of the greatest groups in Europe and that they’ve the most effective coach on this competitors. It’s nonetheless essentially the most tough sport we may have,” he mentioned.
“I’m shocked they’d a interval the place it was tough to beat the accidents however now the workforce I noticed in the previous couple of video games is an efficient workforce, a aggressive workforce.
“I wrestle to think about Manchester Metropolis not being sturdy. They’re actually sturdy with improbable gamers and a improbable manger.”
Ancelotti should discipline a makeshift defence after Lucas Vazquez grew to become his newest damage casualty.
Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba are additionally absent from the Madrid squad.
Midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde are anticipated to begin within the again 4 alongside Raul Asencio and Ferland Mendy.
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