Pep Guardiola has officially surpassed Sir Alex Ferguson to claim second place for the most games managed in Champions League history. However, this historic milestone was heavily overshadowed by a bitter reality, as his Manchester City side crashed out of the competition following a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Spanish giants Real Madrid in the round of 16.
Bernardo Silva was sent off for the first time in his career in what may prove to be a nightmare farewell to the Champions League with Manchester City as Pep Guardiola's side lost 2-1 at home to Real Madrid to exit the competition 5-1 on aggregate in the last 16. Bernardo was given a double punishment for handballing Vinicius Jr's shot on the line as the Brazilian scored from the penalty spot to give City an almost impossible task.
The European dreams of Manchester City appear to be disintegrating as a disastrous opening period at the Etihad Stadium has left Pep Guardiola’s side with a mountain to climb. Any hope of a comeback following the first-leg result seemed to be slipping away after a frantic spell that saw the Citizens reduced to 10 men and concede from the penalty spot. However, Erling Haaland pulled one back to level the score before the end of the first half, offering a glimmer of hope.
After Federico Valverde's stunning first-half hat-trick handed Real Madrid a commanding 3-0 lead in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg, Manchester City face a monumental task in the return clash. Dive into shot maps, xG insights, and key battlegrounds — will City unleash overloads and high pressing for a remontada, or will Madrid's counter-threat seal the tie?
Premier League history-maker James Milner has explained to GOAL why collective trophies won as part of “special” dressing rooms mean more to him than any personal accolades. The former Manchester City and Liverpool midfielder, who is now with Brighton, has been rewriting the English top-flight record books as an individual, but continues to take great pride in being a team player.
Rodri has fueled speculation regarding a potential move to Real Madrid after delivering a cryptic response about his Manchester City future. The former Ballon d'Or winner also admitted to feeling "frustrated" with City's recent inability to kill off games.
Pep Guardiola is a big fan of Phil Foden, but has recently been playing the 25-year-old far less often at Manchester City. The winger has yet to score a goal in 2026.
Kyle Walker believes the national media have “overstepped the mark” when it comes to coverage of his affair with Lauryn Goodman. The former Tottenham and Manchester City defender has fathered two children with the ex-Love Island contestant, and admits to wrongdoing, but has been left disappointed at seeing his wife Annie Kilner hounded by the paparazzi.
Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson believes Chelsea’s "extremely lenient" Premier League settlement provides a potential boost for the Cityzens. The Blues avoided a points deduction despite serious historical financial breaches, setting a potential precedent for City’s ongoing legal battle.
Kyle Walker has revealed that “animal” Dele Alli is the “only person” to have completed a “famous” running test at Tottenham. Ex-England international Dele was once a hard-working, goal-getting midfielder for Spurs. His career has come off the rails somewhat since then, as he currently finds himself without a club, but he retains a special place in the hearts of north London natives.
With Manchester City trailing Real Madrid 3-0 ahead of the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, you might have assumed Pep Guardiola would spend the day before the game at the Etihad Stadium running through tactical instructions with his squad or delivering motivational messages to help them overhaul this daunting deficit against the kings of European football. You would certainly not have imagined the coach would give his players a day off.
Following his stellar performance against Manchester City, Federico Valverde has suddenly found himself in the spotlight as never before. The Uruguayan is a worthy successor to Toni Kroos – even if his style of play is quite different.
Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed that Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe have returned to the Real Madrid squad ahead of the trip to face Manchester City in the Champions League. Both players have been dealing with fitness issues but the head coach says they are now ready to travel with the team, with Mbappe available to play while Bellingham is close to making his return.
Ousmane Dembele played down speculation over his future at Paris Saint‑Germain after his agent was reportedly seen with a Manchester City director. The 28-year-old said contract decisions are not in his hands and insisted he remains focused on performing on the pitch despite uncertainty surrounding his deal running until 2028.
Pep Guardiola has made a surprising admission when explaining why he has given his Manchester City players the day off 24 hours before facing Real Madrid in their Champions League last-16 second leg. City lost the first leg 3-0 in Madrid and are hoping to become only the fifth team in the competition's modern history to overturn a deficit of three goals or more.
Real Madrid's former coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed the light-hearted message he sent to Federico Valverde following the midfielder’s stunning hat-trick against Manchester City. The Uruguayan international produced the performance of a lifetime at the Santiago Bernabeu, single-handedly dismantling the Premier League giants in a sensational first-half display. His treble has put the Spanish giants in a commanding position ahead of the second leg.
Ex-Love Island contestant Montel McKenzie, who remains an ambitious semi-professional footballer, has revealed when his romance with WSL star and former Baller League coach Alisha Lehmann blossomed. The happy couple went Instagram official with their relationship in January having both spent time working alongside Ruben Dias’ television presenter partner, Maya Jama.
Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish was left stunned by Bruno Fernandes’ masterclass as Manchester United secured a massive 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday. The Everton star took to social media to hail the United captain following a performance that rewrote the history books at Old Trafford.
Kylian Mbappe is officially back in the fold for Real Madrid after a knee injury kept him out of the first-leg victory at the Bernabeu. The French superstar has undergone a conservative treatment plan over the last three weeks to avoid surgery, and his progress at Valdebebas has been swift enough to warrant a place in the squad to face Manchester City alongside Jude Bellingham, who has also been out recently.
Newcastle United are bracing themselves for a summer of heavy interest in Lewis Hall, with three Premier League rivals all firmly in the hunt. Scouts from Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal have reportedly been "closely monitoring" the defender as they weigh up big-money moves at the end of the season.
Pep Guardiola has issued an ultimatum to his Manchester City squad, telling any players who doubt their ability to stage a historic Champions League comeback to "stay at home". Facing a daunting three-goal deficit against Real Madrid, the Catalan manager is demanding total belief from his side. City must overcome both their recent poor form and a dismal historical record in first-leg recovery missions to keep their European dreams alive.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered a staunch defence of Erling Haaland, claiming the striker occupies "the most difficult position on the planet" after another scoreless outing against West Ham. The Norway international has seen his usually prolific output stall in 2026, a stark contrast to his blistering start to the campaign.
Kylian Mbappe has handed Real Madrid a fitness boost after completing a normal training session with the rest of the first-team squad on Sunday. The forward has been working through a fitness programme to overcome a persistent knee problem that kept him out of recent domestic action, but his presence in Valdebebas suggests he is closing in on a return to first-team action.
Manchester City are weighing up a sensational summer swoop for Tottenham Hotspur right-back Pedro Porro as the reigning Premier League champions look to finally replace Kyle Walker. With Spurs currently fighting a desperate battle against relegation, Pep Guardiola's side are ready to capitalise on a potential mass exodus by bringing the Spanish defender back to the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City
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