City against their doubts and against history against Real Madrid

Real Madrid arrived just a week ago to their clash with Manchester City as the victim. Doubts about their play and results made many doubt them, but they go to Manchester tomorrow with a 3-0 lead at the Bernabeu that now puts Pep Guardiola's side in the role of the underdog. City are shrouded in doubt after another stumble in the Premier League against West Ham (1-1) that leaves them nine points behind Arsenal, although the Gunners have a game in hand, but they did not fail at home to Everton (2-0).

The truth is that Guardiola is expecting Real Madrid at a more than delicate moment. And he also finds himself facing a revitalized Madrid. The agonizing triumph in Vigo was the turning point. Despite the ten absentees, it turns out that Los Blancos arrive at the second leg with their spirits sky high. It is true that City has been one of the few teams to have managed to put four past Madrid in recent years, in that second leg of the 2022-23 semifinals, after the 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu. However, Los Blancos have come out on top in the last two meetings: last year in the play-off with wins at home and away and the year before with Lunin's famous penalty shootout.

History is on Real Madrid's side

Real Madrid, on the other hand, has never come back from a 3-0 or more in the 35 times it has happened. The closest they came in the ten times Los Blancos went 3-0 up in the first leg was against Dortmund in the 2013-14 campaign. Ancelotti's Madrid had managed a 3-0 win in Madrid but Klopp's side were already 2-0 up at half-time. They failed to equalise in the end. Although Madrid took a 3-0 lead in Turin, Juve managed to equalise in Madrid, although Los Blancos eventually went through with Benatia's famous penalty on Lucas Vazquez, which Cristiano Ronaldo converted at the end of the match.

In the 12-13 campaign, Madrid also took a 3-0 lead in the first leg against Galatasaray. The home side came from behind to win 3-1 after Cristiano Ronaldo's opener. Another night of suffering after a 3-0 win was against Atletico in 16-17. The Rojiblancos went 2-0 up until Benzema's masterpiece to give Isco the goal and make it 2-1.