Champions League Draw: Real Madrid to Face Manchester City Again

The Champions League knockout stage draw ceremony in Nyon produced matchups described in Spain as the "worst possible scenario." Real Madrid drew Manchester City for the fifth consecutive time, making this rivalry a new classic of European football. Experts, including former goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares, point out that the English team is currently better trained and plays at a higher tempo than the Madrid side. The draw also determined the league schedule; La Liga authorities twice changed the kick-off times for matchday 27 within two hours to accommodate European cup dates. The Real Madrid vs Manchester City rivalry over the last decade has become symbolic of the clash between a traditional powerhouse and a modern club model funded by state-backed funds from the Middle East.The squad situation at Real Madrid is complicated by an injury sustained by Raúl Asencio. The young defender suffered a neck spasm after a scary-looking fall in the match against Benfica, ruling him out of the upcoming league game against Getafe. The player himself admitted on social media that at the moment of the incident he "lost track of time," but thanked fans for their support. Meanwhile, FC Barcelona is preparing for the clash with Newcastle United. Coach Hansi Flick is calling for maximum respect for the English opponent, emphasizing both sides' ambitions to reach the grand final. Another Spanish-English duel is the Atlético Madrid vs Tottenham match, making this edition of the tournament a direct testing ground for the two strongest leagues in the world. „Nosotros queremos llegar a la final pero ellos también. Newcastle merece todo el respeto.” (We want to reach the final, but so do they. Newcastle deserves all respect.) — Hansi Flick In the shadow of major transfers and draws, European public opinion was shaken by incidents of a racist nature. Benfica Lisbon made an unprecedented decision to suspend five of its members for their behavior during the first match against Real Madrid. The club stated that such attitudes contradict its values and will not be tolerated. Meanwhile, the Europa League pairs were also drawn, where Celta Vigo will face Olympique Lyon, and Real Betis will take on Greek side Panathinaikos. The fight for an additional, fifth spot in next year's Champions League edition for the Spanish federation is gaining momentum, and the results of the upcoming two-legged ties will be crucial for the national coefficient.