Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that his team’s chances of reaching the Champions League round of 16 are extremely slim ahead of their crucial second-leg clash against Real Madrid on Wednesday night.
City appeared to be in a strong position during the first leg at the Etihad Stadium last week, leading 2-1 with less than ten minutes left. However, two late goals from Madrid completely altered the outlook of the tie. Now trailing 3-2 on aggregate, the Premier League title holders must either secure a two-goal victory in regular time or win by a single goal and triumph in a penalty shootout.
Guardiola did not seem optimistic about his side’s chances. “Winning in the Bernabeu under these circumstances, everyone knows how difficult that is,” he admitted. “If you had asked before the game, our probability of advancing would be minimal, maybe 1%. But as long as there is a possibility, we will fight, that’s certain.”
City’s inconsistent form a concern
Despite securing a resounding 4-0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday, Guardiola was not swayed into thinking his team had rediscovered their best form. The City boss was candid about their struggles this season, pointing out that their overall performances have fallen well below expectations.
“The truth is, this season we have been far, far away from our usual standards,” the Spanish coach admitted. “Our performances and results have been disappointing, and just because we played well in one game doesn’t suddenly mean we have turned a corner. The reality is that we are still not where we should be on a daily basis.”
Madrid’s struggles and Haaland’s fitness
While City face an uphill battle, Real Madrid have also shown vulnerabilities. The Spanish giants were held to a 1-1 draw by Osasuna over the weekend and have suffered seven defeats across all competitions this season – more than three times the number of losses they endured throughout their entire 2023/24 campaign.
City’s hopes of a turnaround in Spain may rest heavily on Erling Haaland’s availability. The Norwegian striker found the net twice in the first leg but was forced off with a knee issue during the Newcastle match. Despite concerns over his fitness, Guardiola was quick to downplay the severity of the injury, suggesting that Haaland’s absence may not be prolonged.
With the odds stacked against them, City must produce something special to overturn their deficit and keep their European hopes alive.
