After delivering one of the most memorable knockout matches in the UEFA Champions League's recent history, Manchester City and Real Madrid face off again on Wednesday with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
The tie is arguably the most high-profile of the Champions League quarterfinals since it features the competition's last two undefeated sides. Both are also riding a high in their domestic leagues where they each sit atop the table and hope to add a Champions League trophy to their end-of-season haul. The similarities might end there, though, since City have been the picture of consistency in Europe this season while Real Madrid have almost gotten away with average performances throughout their run to the last eight.
It sets up for a second leg full of intrigue as the European heavyweights aim to avoid their earliest Champions League exits in four years. Here's what you need to know before tuning in.
Golazo Starting XI Newsletter
Get your Soccer Fix from Around the Globe
Your ultimate guide to the Beautiful Game as our experts take you beyond the pitch and around the globe with news that matters.
By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge Paramount's Privacy Policy.
See All Newsletters
Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe.
Thanks for signing up!
Keep an eye on your inbox.
Sorry!
There was an error processing your subscription.
How to watch and odds
- Date:Wednesday, April 17|Time:3 p.m. ET
- Location:Etihad Stadium -- Manchester, England
- TV: CBS | Live stream:Paramount+
- Odds:Manchester City -155; Draw +320; Real Madrid +390
What happened in the first leg
The teams come into the second leg on even footing after a dramatic 3-3 draw in Madrid last week. City's Bernardo Silva scored within the first two minutes but Real Madrid were up 2-1 by the 14th minute thanks to an own goal from Ruben Dias and a strike from Rodrygo. Phil Foden began City's comeback with his fourth goal in three games midway through the second half, and Josko Gvardiol gave his side the lead with the most stunning strike of the game in the 71st minute. Fernando Valverde, though, equalized just eight minutes later to make it 3-3.
How they got here
Manchester City: The reigning champions have breezed through the Champions League up until the quarterfinals, winning all but last week's first leg. They have scored 27 goals in nine matches so far, perfectly averaging three goals a game so far with Erling Haaland accounting for six of them and Foden right behind him with five. They easily topped a group that included RB Leipzig, Young Boys and Crvena Zvezda and cruised through a round of 16 tie with Copenhagen with a 6-2 aggregate win.
That incredible goalscoring ability has allowed them to survive the somewhat porous defense they have had this season. They have conceded 12 goals during their nine-game run so far, joint most for quarterfinalists with Paris Saint-Germain.
Real Madrid: The thing about this Real Madrid team is that their inconsistencies are on full display, and yet they somehow sneakily eke out a win with limited hand-wringing. They topped a group with Napoli, Braga and Union Berlin with an eight-point gap between first and second place, but narrowly beat RB Leipzig 2-1 on aggregate in the round of 16.
While goalscorers like Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham have played a big role in their run to the quarterfinals, Carlo Ancelotti's side have been fairly wasteful in attack this season. They rank amongst the top three of Champions League teams in a handful of attacking categories but rank 20th in terms of shots-on-goal percentage with just 32.9% of their shots hitting the frame.
Don't miss CBS Sports Golazo Network's Morning Footy, now in podcast form! Our crew brings you all the news, views, highlights and laughs you need to follow the Beautiful Game in every corner of the globe, every Monday-Friday all year long.
Storylines
Manchester City: City's winning streak in European play ended due in large part to an unusually prolific scoring day from both teams, who each generated less than one expected goal each. The glass-half-full argument is that it means City's star-studded attack will be up for the task, regardless of the quality of their shots and especially as they enter their habitually efficient end-of-season run. The glass-half-empty outlook, though, means City will need to be vigilant since Madrid come with their own high-profile offensive unit.
The good news for City is that they have not really taken their foot off the gas in recent weeks. They have 16 goals in their last five games across all competitions, with Foden scoring four of them and Haaland and Gvardiol registering two each. Pep Guardiola will also have the boost of Kevin de Bruyne's presence this week since he missed out with illness a week ago, but if one person's in focus for the second leg, it's Haaland. He may have two goals in his last two Premier League games, but he was barely present at the Bernabeu with just 20 touches and has trended downward in a handful of statistical categories since returning from injury in February. City may be able to survive without his help but will likely be unbeatable with him in top form.
Real Madrid: Los Blancos have not shied away from scoring goals in recent weeks, notching 13 in their last five. Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior each have three during that stretch, but the question surrounding them is if they will actually be more efficient in front of goal against City. The opponent's ability to concede opens up an opportunity for Real Madrid, but ultimately the onus will be on them to actually do so.
The visitors will be without Aurelien Tchouameni at the Etihad, who will miss the game through a yellow card suspension. His absence leaves Real Madrid more vulnerable to City's impressive attack, making this matchup a measuring stick of each side's ability to go all the way and lift another Champions League title.
UCL coverage on CBS Sports Golazo Network
- PSG come back against Barcelona
- Borussia Dortmund reach semifinals for the first time in 10 years
- Manchester City vs. Real Madrid preview
- Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal preview
- Morning Footy break down Man City vs. Real Madrid
- Morning Footy examines the Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal matchup
Quarterfinals TV schedule
All times U.S./Eastern
| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17 | TIME | HOW TO WATCH |
|---|---|---|
| CBS Sports Golazo Matchday | 1 p.m. | CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| UEFA Champions League Today Pre-Match | 1:30 - 2 p.m. | CBS Sports Golazo Network,Paramount+ |
UEFA Champions League Today Pre-Match | 2 p.m. | |
Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal | 3 p.m. | |
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid | 3 p.m. | |
Multicast Stream | 3 p.m. | |
UEFA Champions League Today Post-Match | 5 p.m. | |
| Scoreline | 5 p.m. | CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| The Champions Club | 8 p.m. | CBS Sports Golazo Network |
Prediction
Everything's coming up City these days so it's hard to see that not being the case again on Wednesday, but Real Madrid are unlikely to make it easy for them. Expect another match that will be closely contested but for City to make a statement just when it counts and advance to their fourth straight Champions League semifinal. Pick: Manchester City 2, Real Madrid 1 (ET)
