Xabi Alonso played for Pep Guardiola when the latter was in charge at Bayern Munich, and they meet for the first time as managers with an expectation that the two teams will play in a very similar manner in a match that is undoubtedly more important for the Los Blancos boss.
Alonso could be sacked
The Spaniard hasn't been in the job for five minutes, but already there are strong rumours that he could be sacked by the Santiago Bernabeu outfit if City head back to England with all three points.
Despite an encouraging start to life in Madrid, a run of poor results and player power has seemingly left Alonso backed into a corner.
"Of course I have sympathy because we were together one year and a half, two years," Guardiola told reporters in his pre-match press conference.
"It was an incredible experience being with him. Not just as a manager, we shared many things, families as well.
"But Barcelona and Madrid are the toughest opponents, the toughest clubs, I would say, to be a manager. They are more difficult for the pressure, for the environment."
Mbappe key for Los Blancos
Kylian Mbappe is a doubt for the match due to a knee issue, but given his importance to the side, Alonso may well risk playing him.
Last time out in the Champions League against Olympiacos, he scored all four goals, further establishing himself as Alonso's star man ahead of Vinicius Junior.
The Frenchman also bagged a hat-trick the last time the two teams met, in a Champions League knockout round playoff match last season, which ended 3-1 to Real.
Only Lionel Messi has more goal contributions (seven goals, two assists in eight appearances) than Mbappe's seven goals and one assist in seven games against City.
Mbappe's nine goals in the competition this season are the joint-most scored by a Madrid player in their first five appearances in a single edition, along with Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013/14, and are almost double that of City talisman Erling Haaland, who has five to his name.
Haaland's insane scoring record
The Norwegian will want to add to the two goals scored against Real in his five appearances against them to date, thereby increasing his overall total in the competition to 54, which have come in just 53 games.
Haaland has also plundered 20 goals in all club competitions this season, which is only bettered by Mbappe's 26 and Harry Kane's 28.
Just once in this fixture has there been a goalless draw, way back in April 2016, so the importance of both of the former pair to their teams can't be understated ahead of Wednesday's clash.
The hosts head into the game having the third-longest streak of scoring in consecutive home games (38) in European Cup/Champions League history, and not since CSKA Moscow visited the Bernabeu in December 2018 have a visiting team kept a clean sheet in the competition (0-0 draw).
Only Real themselves (45 games between September 2011 and October 2018), and Juventus (45 games between April 1973 and September 2000) have a better record.
City still outside automatic qualification spots
The Premier League side are looking for their first win in fixtures between the two clubs since May 2023. They'll need a positive result too, as they currently remain outside the automatic qualification spots.
It will be the 15th meeting between the teams in the competition, and since the first in 2012/13, no other fixture has been played as many times.
Guardiola will surely want to see a reversal of current form in the competition for his side as, since November 2024, City have lost six of their 12 games (W4 D2), but prior to that, it took 69 Champions League games to lose six (W49 D14).
The Catalan has also never failed to beat Real Madrid for five games in a row. Currently four without a win (D2, L2), Pep won almost half of the previous 27 meetings across spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich before City, winning 13, drawing seven and losing seven.
Both managers, therefore, have valid reasons for ensuring their team earns the three points, with two more Champions League games left to play after this one.
City's faith in Guardiola will extend beyond a loss, albeit the squad could face a fight to qualify automatically if other results go against them.
Real Madrid's patience with Alonso on the other hand could well run out, but is a change at this point in time really the best course of action?
Ultimately, it isn't just Mbappe who has to step up for the Spaniards. Notwithstanding their multiple injury concerns, particularly in defence, senior players such as Vinicius Junior, Aurelien Tchouameni, Fede Valverde and others have to leave everything out on the pitch.
Follow Real Madrid vs Manchester City with Flashscore
