Real Madrid vs Manchester City has become a Champions League staple -- a fixture known for producing moments of brilliance and for storylines that dominate discussion long before kickoff.

This meeting is no different. Real Madrid enter the contest tonight missing key players through injury and suspension, uncertain over the availability of their most prolific forward, and facing growing pressure on coach Xabi Alonso -- circumstances Pep Guardiola's Manchester City will look to exploit.

** This will be the 15th meeting between the two sides in the Champions League. Since their first encounter in 2012-13, it has become the most-played fixture in the competition.

** Pep Guardiola faces Real coach Xabi Alonso -- whom he coached at Bayern Munich -- for the first time as a manager.

** Real have won just two of their last seven games in all competitions, with Spanish media suggesting Alonso could be sacked if they lose to Guardiola's side.

** Adding to Alonso's challenges, Real could be without up to eight key players, including Champions League and LaLiga top scorer Kylian Mbappe, who missed Tuesday's training with an injury.

** City arrive on a three-match winning run, while Real suffered a 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo at the weekend, leaving them four points adrift of LaLiga leaders Barcelona.

** City will look to Erling Haaland, who has scored 20 goals in all competitions this season. Only Mbappe (25) and Harry Kane (28) have scored more in 2025-26 among players in Europe's top five leagues.

** City sit ninth in the 36-team Champions League standings, two points behind fifth-placed Real. Both teams have one loss, but Real have four wins to City's three and can strengthen their top-eight position with a victory.

** Despite City's momentum, they have lost their last two matches against Real, falling at home and away in last season's play-off round.