There are few stadiums in the world in which Real Madrid does not feel comfortable. Being the greatest winner in the history of the Champions League – with 14 editions to his credit – is overwhelming proof of how strong he knew how to become on most occasions both home and away. However, there are two specific courts that do not bring positive memories to Merengue fans. And one of them is the one that will have to go on Wednesday to go in search of a new European final.
The first of these is Milan's San Siro, where Real Madrid lost in their first five visits to the European Cup and drew in the two most recent. The legendary Italian field is the only one that worsens in visitor numbers compared to the Etihad Stadium, the home of Manchester City, where those led by Carlo Ancelotti play the pass to the final in Istanbul, a scenario in which Madrid never managed to beat the English in four games. In addition, the fact of having Pep Guardiola in front is an extra seasoning.
Both teams turn out to be among the best at European level in recent years. This is demonstrated by the statistics: nine of their clashes have been in four head-to-head matches; three times they have met in the semi-finals, and once only in the knockout stages as in the group stage.
Etihad Stadium, hostile terrain for Madrid. Photo: Manchester City.
And the record shows even greater parity between the two: three wins for each team and three draws, the last one being played last week at the Santiago Bernabéu for the first leg of the semifinals of this edition of the Champions League with a 1-1 result that left everything open for the return.
Despite that brown, the Real Madrid team does not have the best memories of their steps at the Etihad. Never emerge victorious in their visits, where they were already eliminated on one occasion from the maximum continental competition and were defeated on the last two occasions.
Although Madrid can also resort to the archive to remember historical matches in their favor against the English. One of them is recent. This is the unforgettable comeback in the past semifinals, with an aggregate 5-3 in favor of the Citizens when the 90th minute was fulfilled at the Santiago Bernabéu, until the Brazilian Rodrygo appeared to score two goals in a minute that sent the game to the lengthening – and there he sentenced the series Karim Benzema through a penalty.
Such hand-to-hand served to erase from memory the feeling of inferiority suffered in 2020, in the knockout round marked by the coronavirus pandemic that stopped football and caused more than five months to separate two matches. Then, the team that was led by Zinedine Zidane fell by the same result at the Santiago Bernabéu and at the Etihad (2-1), with no option for the comeback.
The defeat of Real Madrid in 2020 and that left him out of the Champions League in the second round. Photo: REUTERS/Shaun Botterill.
Until then, despite the fact that the Real Madrid team had not won in Manchester either, it dominated the duels and had never been defeated in England. The first meeting between both teams in the maximum continental tournament took place on Spanish soil in a group stage. On the first day of the 2012-13 edition, the goals of the Brazilian Marcelo, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo served to turn the match twice after the appearances of the Bosnian Edin Dzeko and the Serbian Aleksandar Kolarov (3-2).
The return and first visit of Real Madrid to the Etihad, in November 2012, was the occasion in which he was closest to victory in Manchester territory. Kun Agüero prevented it through the penalty route, in the final stretch of the match (1-1), after an early goal by Benzema.
Three years after the start of a crossing already habitual in the last 10 years, in the 2015/2016 season, there was a reunion again in a semifinal. In what were the first for City in its international history, yielding to Real Madrid in a tie full of equality that was decided by a small detail. On their second visit to the Etihad, the Real Madrid team signed a goalless draw in a serious match that gave way to a duel full of tension at the Bernabéu. The fortune factor decanted the return when Real Madrid won 1-0 with a goal against Brazilian Fernando.
The first head-to-head series between the two teams went to Madrid, although without getting the victory in England. Photo: Marca
The Guardiola effect
With the arrival of Pep Guardiola at City in 2016, the Manchester team turned its relationship with Real Madrid around. He only lost one match (in the length), won three and drew in the rest.
Guardiola always turns out to be a little extra annoyance for Real Madrid. The Catalan coach made his debut by conquering the Bernabéu in the knockout stages of the Champions League, in February 2020, days before the confinement due to the pandemic. The tie would be resolved five months later with another 2-1 victory, in what meant Madrid's third visit to the Etihad.
The fourth and last visit to date of the white team to the home of City left a new defeat for Real Madrid in what was the first leg of the semifinals of the last edition of Champions. It was a 4-3 victory for the cast of Pep Guardiola, who will seek to continue respecting the streak they have against the Madrid in local condition. Whatever the result that gives them the victory on Wednesday, it will ensure their passage to what would be the second Champions League final in the history of the English team.
Pep Guardiola on his visit last week to the Bernabeu. Photo: EFE / Rodrigo Jiménez.
All Madrid's visits to the Etihad Stadium
26/4/2022: Manchester City 4-3 Real Madrid - First leg of Champions League Semifinals 2021/22.
7/8/2020: Manchester City 2-1 Real Madrid - Second leg of the Champions League 2019/20.
26/4/2016: Manchester City 0-0 Real Madrid - First leg of Champions League Semifinals 2015/2016.
21/11/2012: Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid - Champions League group stage 2012-13.
Manchester City and Real Madrid will seek to draw differences for a pass in the continental final. Photo: JAVIER SORIANO / AFP.
With information from EFE
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