Manchester City vs Real Madrid is the upcoming first leg match in this year's UEFA Champions League Semifinals. Real Madrid look to reach another Champions league trophy while Manchester City look to reach the finals for two straight years.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Match Preview:

City toppled Atletico Madrid last time out in their attempts to reach a second final in quick succession, although this will be a different proposition entirely.

Carlo Ancelotti's side, as they proved against Chelsea, simply know how to produce big moments on the grandest stage. They may not always convince, but Madrid boast the kind of star quality to hurt any team in the world.

Few, of course, would doubt City's quality, although they are a touch less experienced in grinding results out in this particular competition.Here's everything.

Team News:

Manchester City:

While all players who had only amassed one or two yellow have now seen their infringements wiped, City will have to cope without Joao Cancelo for the first leg, as the Portuguese picked up his third caution of the tournament at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Getting ready to face Real 💪#ManCity #UCL pic.twitter.com/dOXmyGDWC4

— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 25, 2022

Guardiola will therefore be desperate to have Kyle Walker back from an ankle issue in time for Tuesday – the right-back is "much, much better" according to the Catalan coach – and it remains to be seen if John Stones will battle back from a muscular injury to make himself available.

The likes of Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez will all anticipate recalls to the first XI this week, but Jesus has given Guardiola plenty of food for thought by responding to links with a move away with a quartet of strikes on Saturday.

Real Madrid:

"While Real Madrid do not have any suspension concerns for the first leg – Eder Militao is back from a ban served in the home loss to Chelsea – Ancelotti's injury problems are mounting after David Alaba was taken off with a thigh issue against Osasuna.

The defender was restricted to indoor work on Saturday alongside Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz – all three of whom will miss out – but Alaba has made the squad alongside Casemiro and Ferland Mendy and could earn some minutes here.

Luka Modric was rested entirely for the win over Osasuna but will reprise his midfield role here alongside the returning Toni Kroos, while Marcelo should be fit enough to deputise at left-back for Mendy if needed.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Head to Head:

Real Madrid have a fairly impressive overall record against Manchester City and have won five out of eight matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Manchester City's three victories.

Manchester City have a flawless recent record against Los Blancos and won both legs of their previous UEFA Champions League clash in 2020 by an aggregate 4-2 margin.

Real Madrid are winless in their last three matches against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League and will need to be at their best in this fixture.

Recent performances in all competitions:

Manchester City:

2-2 draw against Liverpool

0-0 draw against Atletico Madrid

3-2 loss against Liverpool

3-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion

5-1 win over Watford

Real Madrid:

3-1 win over Chelsea FC

2-0 win over Getafe

3-2 loss against Chelsea FC

3-2 win over Sevilla

3-1 win over Osasuna

Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Predicted Line-ups:

Manchester City:Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling

Real Madrid:Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Marcelo; Kroos, Camavinga, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Junior

MCI vs RMA: Dream11 Predictions:

The English Premier League, or the Premier League, has been the best football league in Europe for a long now. As per UEFA Club Coefficients, the Premier League is the best football league on the continent, with the best standard of football and competitiveness. 

The competitiveness not only makes it tough for teams to finish at the summit of the points table, but the battle for the UEFA Champions League spot also intensifies. This season, Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC, Manchester City, Chelsea FC, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have already qualified for the UEFA Champions League from the Premier League. 

This is the first time six teams from any league have qualified for the Champions League. Not only that, there is also a chance that another team can qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season, depending on Chelsea's performance in the Conference League final this season. 

Read Also | Ranking all 33 UEFA Champions League finals

How do teams qualify for the Champions League from a league?

Till the 2022-23 season, every top-four team from the European Leagues used to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Along with the top four teams, the Europa League winners also qualified for the Champions League next season. 

But, from the 2024 season, along with the top four teams and Europa League/Conference League winners, leagues started getting an additional European Performance Spot. EPS is awarded to the league with strong UEFA coefficient performances, which the Premier League earned this season as well. 

Read Also | Every Premier League club’s biggest Free Transfer Exit

Premier League teams to qualify for the Champions League every season since 2016

2015-16

In the 2025-16 Champions League season, Chelsea qualified as the champions of the Premier League 2014-15. Manchester City and Arsenal qualified as the second and third finishers of the league. 

Meanwhile, Manchester United qualified for the Champions League play-off round as the UEFA Europa League 2014-15 winners.

1. Chelsea
2. Manchester City
3. Arsenal
4. Manchester United

2016-17

Leicester City surprised everyone to win the 2015-16 Premier League after a historic season. They entered the Champions League as the champions of England. Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester City qualified as the second to fourth spot finishers. 

• Leicester City (Champions, 1st)
• Arsenal (2nd)
• Tottenham Hotspur (3rd)
• Manchester City (4th)

2017-18

Chelsea qualified for the Champions League by winning the 2016-17 Premier League. Spurs, who were very close of a title, finished second to qualify for Europe. Manchester City and Liverpool qualified as the third and fourth place finishers. 

Meantime, Manchester United, who were sixth in the league qualified after winning the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League. 

• Chelsea (Champions, 1st)
• Tottenham Hotspur (2nd)
• Manchester City (3rd)
• Liverpool (4th)
• Manchester United (6th, qualified via Europa League win)

2018-19

Manchester City's domination in the Premier League started with winning the 2017-18 season, as they entered the Champions League 2018-19 as the champions of England. Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Liverpool were the other teams to qualify for Champions League.

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur played an all-England final where Liverpool defeated Spurs by 2-0 to win the title. 

• Manchester City (Champions, 1st)
• Manchester United (2nd)
• Tottenham Hotspur (3rd)
• Liverpool (4th)

2019-20

After winning the Champions League, Liverpool finished second in the Premier League, just one point behind the champions, Manchester City. Chelsea and Spurs qualified as the third and fourth team from Premier League.

• Manchester City (Champions, 1st)
• Liverpool (2nd)
• Chelsea (3rd)
• Tottenham Hotspur (4th)

2020-21

Liverpool finally broke City's Premier League domination as they lifted 2019-20 Premier League title with 18 points lead over Manchester City, who finished second. Manchester United and Chelsea were the other teams to qualify for the Champions League.

Manchester City and Chelsea played an all-English Champions League in 2021, where Chelsea won their second UCL title. 

• Liverpool (Champions, 1st)
• Manchester City (2nd)
• Manchester United (3rd)
• Chelsea (4th)

2021-22

Manchester City again won the Premier League title to qualify for Europe, with Manchester United finishing second in the league. Liverpool and Chelsea were the other tequalified as the third and fourth teams from the Premier League. 

Liverpool lost the Champions League final against Real Madrid in the 2021-22 season.

• Manchester City (Champions, 1st)
• Manchester United (2nd)
• Liverpool (3rd)
• Chelsea (4th)

2022-23

City defended the Premier League title in the 2021-22 season and entered the Champions League 2022-23, which they eventually won, beating Inter Milan in the final. 

Liverpool, who lost the Premier League race by just one point, qualified alongside Chelsea and Spurs.

• Manchester City (Champions, 1st)
• Liverpool (2nd)
• Chelsea (3rd)
• Tottenham Hotspur (4th)

2023-24

City won their third consecutive Premier League title helped them earn the Champions League spot. Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United qualified for the Champions League 2023-24. 

• Manchester City (Champions, 1st)
• Arsenal (2nd)
• Manchester United (3rd)
• Newcastle United (4th)

2024-25

Back-to-back four Premier League titles for City ensured them another go at the Champions League. Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa were the other teams from Premier League to qualify for the new format Champions Legaue. 

Arsenal were the only team from the Premier League to play semi-final that season.

• Manchester City (Champions, 1st)
• Arsenal (2nd)
• Liverpool (3rd)
• Aston Villa (4th)

Read Also | Most English Top Flight Titles: Liverpool equal with United

2025-26

A record six teams qualified for the 2025-26 Champions League season from the Premier League. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea qualified as the top four teams. The EPS allowed an added spot as Newcastle United qualified as the fifth team.

Spurs qualified as the Europa League 2024-25 winners. Chelsea can also become the seventh team to qualify from the Premier League, if they win the UEFA Conference League final against Real Betis on 28th May. 

• Liverpool (Champions, 1st)
• Arsenal (2nd)
• Manchester City (3rd)
• Chelsea (4th)
• Newcastle United (5th)
• Tottenham Hotspur (17th, qualified via Europa League win)

The game between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad was stopped for a few minutes as Luka Modric was substituted in the second half.

Real Madrid players gave him a guard of honour while Toni Kroos and Carlo Ancelotti gave a special hug to Real Madrid's most decorated player ever. 

Read Also | Luka Modric to Depart Real Madrid After Club World Cup, Leaving Legacy as Club Legend

Modric will end his Real Madrid career with the FIFA Club World Cup and, till now, has won 28 trophies for the Los Blancos. 

Along with Modric, it was also Carlo Ancelotti's last home match for Real Madrid, as he will also be leaving Real Madrid at the end of this season. 

Real Madrid CF announced that their captain, Luka Modric, will conclude his illustrious tenure with the club following the Club World Cup, set to begin on June 18 in the United States. The Croatian midfielder, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the club’s history, will bid farewell after an extraordinary 13-year journey.

Since joining Real Madrid in 2012, Modric has been a cornerstone of one of the most triumphant eras in the club’s storied history.

Over his 13 seasons, he amassed an unparalleled 28 titles, including 6 European Cups, 6 Club World Cups, 5 European Super Cups, 4 LaLiga titles, 2 Copas del Rey, and 5 Spanish Super Cups.

His trophy cabinet makes him the player with the most titles in Real Madrid’s 123-year history, a record shared by only five players in football history who have won six European Cups.

Modric’s individual accolades are equally remarkable. In 2018, he claimed the Ballon d’Or, FIFA The Best Men’s Player, and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year awards.

He has been named to the FIFA FIFPro World XI six times and was recognised as the Champions League Best Midfielder twice. On the pitch for Real Madrid, Modric made 590 appearances, scoring 43 goals, and earned a Golden Ball and Silver Ball at the Club World Cup.

Internationally, Modric is Croatia’s record holder for appearances with 186 caps. His leadership guided Croatia to a runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup, where he won the Golden Ball, and a third-place finish in 2022, earning the Bronze Ball.

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez praised Modric’s impact, stating, “Luka Modric will forever remain in the hearts of all madridistas as a unique and exemplary footballer who has always embodied the values of Real Madrid. His football has captured the imagination of Madridismo and fans all over the world. His legacy will live on forever.”

El Clasico refers to a match between two of Spain's biggest teams, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The rivalry goes beyond the football field as Madrid, the capital of Spain and Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia's autonomous community, have shared their fair share of political tension over the years. 

Initially, the term was only used for the matches in the domestic Spanish championship, La Liga. Over the years, however, it's been globally recognised for every single meeting, such as in the UEFA Champions League or even domestic cup competitions like the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España.

With both teams boasting big budgets and reputations that appeal to world-class performers across the planet, their respective ranks have been loaded with match-winners over the years.

Read Also | Top 10 La Masia Graduates who ruled football

El Clasico: H-2-H breakdown of all statistics!

Here we have for you a breakdown of the games the two giants have played!

Most Appearances in El-Clasico

Former Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets has played 48 El-Clasico games, the most in the rivalry's history. Lionel Messi and Sergio Raoms follow him in the list with 45 El-Clasico games.

Most goals in El-Clasico

Former FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has scored the most goals in El-Clasico. Since making his first Clasico appearance in 2005, the Argentine legend has played a joint-record 45 matches against Madrid, scoring 26 goals. This includes two hat-tricks in 2007 and 2014.

Former Real Madrid forwards Alfredo Di Stefano and Cristiano Ronaldo share the second spot with 18 goals each.

Hello and welcome to another exciting evening of UEFA Champions League football. This is Koushik Biswas, who will bring you all the updates of the PSG vs Arsenal UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Semi-final second leg match at the Parc des Princes in Paris. 

Paris St. Germain (PSG) are leading by 1-0 after the first leg as Ousmane Dembele's lone goal in the first half was enough for the Parisians to secure a first-leg win. 

Meanwhile, Arsenal looked good in spells but could not convert their chances to level with PSG at their home. But with only one goal deficit, this game is far from over.

With both teams not tasting European success in their history, they will not want to miss the chance to qualify for the final. 

So, sit back and relax as we bring you every minute update of the match. Enjoy the coverage.