Champions League: Man City & Real Madrid fighting for their lives

Real Madrid and Manchester City meeting again in the Champions League knockout stage has become a classic matchup in modern football. These two football giants are facing each other for the fourth time in the last four seasons in European competitions, but this time the situation is vastly different. Previous encounters occurred in the later stages of the tournament, while this time, they are fighting tooth and nail just to reach the Round of 16. This early clash adds an extra layer of intensity and unpredictability to the encounter.

So, how did these two teams, which have achieved glorious results in European competitions in recent years, fail to reach the top eight and ultimately end up in the playoffs? Manchester City barely squeezed into the playoffs with a last-minute victory in a do-or-die match against Club Brugge. This is partly due to their own problems, but not entirely. The unpredictable nature of football can often lead to unexpected results.

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola had the opportunity to strengthen the team's roster after winning the last Premier League title, but he ultimately abandoned this plan, partly because he was uncertain about his future at the time. He seriously considered an invitation from the English Football Association, leaning 70% towards becoming the next national team coach, with people around him assuring him that it would bring him a more peaceful life. However, he ultimately trusted his players, the team that had brought him four Premier League titles, and decided to stay at Manchester City to complete his work. His loyalty and commitment to the club ultimately prevailed.

In November, Manchester City was at the top of the table, the only undefeated team in the top five leagues. But then, the team began to decline. Rodri's torn ACL, as well as injuries to potential replacements like Akanji and Stones, were key factors leading to the team's predicament. Foden's poor form, De Bruyne's inability to maintain his consistent high level, and Grealish's failure to demonstrate his due strength all exacerbated the problem. The reality is that a lackluster team looked tired and went through the motions in training. These issues combined to create a significant challenge for the team.

In mid-December, Guardiola signed a one-year contract extension with Manchester City, extending his tenure at the club to ten years, ending all uncertainty about his future. Although many around him advised him to leave, he went against his own wishes, deciding that now was not the time to leave, even though it was already clear that the team needed a thorough rebuild. Some of the team's key players told him that they all supported him and believed he could lead them out of the predicament. Even though some players had envisioned developing elsewhere, his authority was never questioned. Guardiola's leadership and influence remained strong.

Guardiola was also fighting his own body. Due to his excessive demands on himself, his physical resistance declined, and he seemed to lack stability in his life, contracting various viruses. Despite his poor physical condition and large mood swings, he was still influencing and demanding things from those around him. Just when things on the field seemed to be improving, they were defeated by a revitalized Paris Saint-Germain in the penultimate league game. Subsequently, after defeating Chelsea and Club Brugge, they were惨败(miserably defeated) by Arsenal 1-5. Club insiders expect the team's performance to be hit-or-miss for the rest of the season. The team's inconsistency has become a source of concern.

With the return of players such as Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Stones, and Ake, Guardiola hopes that his team can soon once again show the form they had when they won the treble. But currently, being able to enter the top four seems to be a major achievement, and Guardiola is working on rebuilding more parts of the team, in addition to the players who have already been brought in. The coaching staff has heard their coach say that if they can enter the top four, they should celebrate it like celebrating their fifth league title, because he feels it is too difficult. The competition for the top spots is fierce and demanding.

Real Madrid's path to this unexpected knockout stage, while not as crisis-ridden as Manchester City's, has not been without its dramatic moments. Three losses in the group stage forced them to face a team they would normally encounter later in the tournament. No one will ignore that, although they are currently ranked first in La Liga, they have performed poorly against strong teams at home or away this season. The defense has been a mess, with key players such as Carvajal and Militao suffering serious ACL injuries, Alaba out for a long time, and Rudiger also missing for a long time. The defensive woes have been a major concern for the team.

But defensive problems are just the tip of the iceberg, and coach Ancelotti knows this better than anyone. In the match against Manchester City, they will field a front line consisting of Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Mbappe, with Bellingham behind them. They have scored 59 goals this season, but the problem Ancelotti faces is that, apart from Bellingham, his superstars in the front line do not always put in the necessary defensive work. Ancelotti saw the potential problems at the beginning of the season, and he knew that unless they were more involved, it would be a long season. The lack of defensive contribution from the attacking players is a significant challenge.

Kroos' absence makes it more difficult for them to control the game, and Real Madrid has been affected by not finding a replacement for the retired midfielder. Any funds they spent were not used to replace Kroos, but to bring in Mbappe and other young talents. They have also spent a lot of money rebuilding their stadium, and complaints from neighbors about the noise mean that concerts originally planned to be held in the new stadium have been canceled by local licensing authorities. Saying this is a "nice income" for the club doesn't even describe the situation. This is a huge economic blow to Real Madrid. The financial setbacks have added to the team's challenges.

Vinicius looked more involved in Real Madrid's weekend game against Atletico Madrid, after Modric and Valverde had harshly criticized him for failing to perform at his best in the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Leganes. Ancelotti continues to try to manage a player who often seems to want to conquer the world on and off the field. He seems to be carrying a heavy burden, which means we haven't seen his best form this season. Behind the scenes, there are also reportedly huge offers from Saudi Arabia—some say around 1 billion euros—to sign him. The pressure and expectations surrounding Vinicius have been immense.

For now, all of this is just a rumor, and Real Madrid has not commented on the matter, neither explicitly supporting nor explicitly opposing it. Although Rodrygo has scored 13 goals on the left wing, where Vinicius excels, his departure would not be considered a fatal blow. Meanwhile, Mbappe is in the best form he has ever been in at the club. He has decided to rely on his skills and intuition, to be himself, and now everyone—including Vinicius—knows that he is the focus of Real Madrid. Mbappe's arrival has shifted the dynamics within the team.

A leadership order led by Mbappe and a more perceptive Bellingham is beginning to take shape. Modric and Valverde are also playing a role, replacing players such as Carvajal and Militao who were once at the forefront. Describing Real Madrid as being at a disadvantage seems like an understatement. But as Ancelotti said, they have always won with quality, and even if there is a lack of input, the quality is abundant. So, who would bet against them? Despite the challenges, Real Madrid's inherent quality and experience make them a formidable opponent.