Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says his team has learned from past Champions League clashes with Real Madrid ahead of their latest showdown.
PEP Guardiola believes Manchester City have learned valuable lessons from their long-running Champions League rivalry with Real Madrid. The two clubs were pitted against each other again in Friday’s last 16 draw.
City will face the 15-time European champions over two legs in March. The sides have met 15 times previously in the competition, including a 2-1 City win in the group stage in Madrid last December.
Real Madrid have knocked City out for the past two seasons. They won 6-3 on aggregate in last season’s play-off round and triumphed in a quarter-final penalty shoot-out in 2023-24.
The clubs also met in the 2022 and 2023 semi-finals, with Real winning the first clash and City progressing three years ago. Guardiola feels these high-stakes encounters have been formative for his squad.
“For our club when you play against the best teams in the whole history of this competition, you learn and improve and are better for the future,” Guardiola said.
Guardiola, who led City to their first Champions League crown in 2023, is currently focused on the Premier League title race. His side visit Leeds on Saturday, trailing leaders Arsenal by five points.
City have a game in hand on Arsenal and host the Gunners in April. Winning their final 11 league games would guarantee City the title regardless of Arsenal’s results.
While Guardiola is a title race veteran, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is yet to lift the trophy. Arteta has only won the 2020 FA Cup with Arsenal, who have finished as runners-up for the last three seasons.
Arsenal blew substantial leads over City in 2023 and 2024 and have faced criticism for wobbling under pressure this term. Guardiola declined to offer advice on chasing a first title.
“I don’t remember. I’m not here to give advice to Mikel,” Guardiola said when asked.
The City boss confirmed the club’s Muslim players will be available against Leeds during Ramadan. He said the club’s nutritionists would adapt their plans to support Abdukodir Khusanov, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush.
“They follow this religious tradition and we have good nutritionists who adapt for what the team needs,” Guardiola said.
“I think they’re used to it, they’re not young and used to playing in this period. It’s not their first time and we know how to handle it.”