BBC
The Champions League returns this week with Manchester City once again having to find a way past La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
These two sides have met in the knockout stages in three of the past four seasons, including at the semi-final stage in 2022 and 2023.
The first leg of their quarter-final takes place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, 9 April before the second at Etihad Stadium on 17 April.
City won 4-2 on aggregate in the last 16 in 2020, Real triumphed 6-5 on aggregate after extra time in a thrilling semi-final in 2022, but Pep Guardiola got his revenge last year with a crushing 5-1 aggregate success, including a 4-0 second-leg thrashing, before City beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the final.
Can anyone stop City retaining the Champions League this year?
For our experts on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro Leagues podcast, the answer is a resounding ‘no’.
‘Pound for pound the best team in Europe’
“It has to be Manchester City,” said Guillem Balague. “Now they know what happens when you lose and when you win and they are gaining a lot of experience and it’s mostly the same players that have been in both positions.
“They have the best squad in Europe and the best manager that’s capable to react to whatever happens during the games. They have everything you require to win this competition.”
James Horncastle added: “These players have shown they can do it and will draw even more strength from that, which is concerning considering they were already pound for pound the best team in Europe.”
Despite being favourites, City will have to do it the hard way as they play 14-time European champions Real, a side dominating La Liga, before a potential semi-final against either Premier League title rivals Arsenal or 2020 European champions Bayern Munich.
Raphael Honigstein felt City would not want an all-English semi-final but still tipped Guardiola’s side to win the final at Wembley on 1 June.
“It’s hard not to go for City,” he said. “They’re the best team in Europe despite their flaws and the sense they’re more vulnerable than in recent years.
“It was a very bad draw for them, especially if they’re up against Arsenal in the semi-final, which is not what they want, but City are still the best team in the competition so how can I not back them?”
On paper, the opposite side of the draw looks weaker, with one of the quarter-finals seeing Atletico Madrid take on Borussia Dortmund, with both sides struggling domestically and in danger of missing out on qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Ligue 1 leaders Paris St-Germain take on a Barcelona side who are well off the pace in La Liga and lost twice in the Champions League group phase, although they still won their group.
