Inter Miami paying the price for preseason globe-trotting

Ex-Barca wonderkid Puig leading LA Galaxy back to the top

Arne Slot: Why Liverpool got fiery Dutchman to replace Klopp

Alonso & Nagelsmann gone - what now for bruised Bayern?

Kicked out by Pep & mistakes at Barca - what next for Cancelo?

Explained: How much promotion is worth to Wrexham

Trossard 'playing like R9' after Hathaway 'I love you' shout

Man Utd set new Premier League marker in Sheffield Utd win

'There's no negatives about it' - Zidane backed to replace Ten Hag

Respect Bruno! Man Utd captain up there with Odegaard & KDB

Foden joins Haaland and Messi by reaching special milestone 

Why visa issues may cause issues at the 2026 World Cup

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>City will play Real Madrid in the UCL last-eight</li><li>Begiristain left unimpressed with UCL draw</li><li>Remains confident that they will overcome the challenge</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

'Always the same!' - Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain 'bored of these balls' after treble winners draw Real Madrid in Champions League AGAIN

Premier League

Nottingham Forest

Manchester City

Champions League

Bayern Munich

Real Madrid

The encounter with Real Madrid marks the<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/champions-league-2023-24-power-rankings/blt3ac63471089224b7" target="_blank"> third consecutive season</a> that Manchester City and the Spanish giants have met in the knockout stages. In the 2022 campaign, Real Madrid secured a dramatic 6-5 aggregate victory over City in the semi-finals. However, City exacted revenge last season, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/harry-kane-arsenal-kylian-mbappe-winners-losers-champions-league-quarter-final-draw/blt869b2f0d5041b72b" target="_blank">delivering a stunning 5-1 aggregate triumph</a> on their way to lifting the trophy for the first time in the club's history.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Despite the exhilarating matchups in recent years, Begiristain is vexed with facing the same opponents time and again. In fact, the two teams have met eight times in the Champions League since the 2015-16 season - and before that, they had crossed paths on just two occasions.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

After the draw, Begiristain said: "What a pity. These balls bore me; it's always the same. This year's draw is identical to last year's, just swap Liverpool with Arsenal... We will try to replicate what we succeeded in doing last season when we made it to the final against Real."

WHAT BEGIRISTAIN SAID

Begiristain believes that City's commanding 4-0 victory in the second leg of last season's semi-final serves as a source of inspiration for the upcoming clash and Pep Guardiola's troops will once again emerge triumphant over Los Blancos over the two legs.“Now it’s Real Madrid but we have to remember we beat them last season in the semi-finals so we will try to remember that,” Begiristain pointed out. “We need to remember that we beat them last season in the semi-final and we played at home in the second leg. We did a top, top job in the second leg but we need to remember how strong they are and that they are top of their league and that they enjoy this competition. “It’s the history of Real Madrid. Every time they face up in this competition, they think they are going to win. The only thing is that we are confident. We are doing well, we have been in the last years fighting for this competition and at the end we won it. “Also, the competition that we are doing this year has also been very good. We have been winning all games so we hope that we can keep this rhythm. Mentally we are strong."

BEGIRISTAIN CONFIDENT OF GETTING PAST REAL MADRID

Before flying to Spain for the first leg on April 8, City have a packed domestic schedule with an FA Cup fixture against Newcastle United to start with on Saturday afternoon. Subsequently, they have three crucial Premier League fixtures against Arsenal, Aston Villa &amp; Crystal Palace.

WHAT NEXT?

'Always the same!' - Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain 'bored of these balls' after treble winners draw Real Madrid in Champions League AGAIN | Goal.com US

Manchester City&apos;s Txiki Begiristain is &quot;bored&quot; of the &quot;same&quot; Champions League draw after the treble winners were again pitted against Real Madrid.

&apos;Always the same!&apos; - Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain &apos;bored of these balls&apos; after treble winners draw Real Madrid in Champions League AGAIN

Editors' Picks