Donnarumma, Haaland & Rodri return as Pep Guardiola makes eight Man City changes for Real Madrid clash | OneFootball

Manchester City will take on Real Madrid for the fifth consecutive knockout campaign for the first time in Champions League history tonight.

The Cityzens are gearing up for yet another trip to Santiago Bernabeu, with both sides set to lock horns for their Champions League last 16 first-leg clash.

City qualified for the last 16 after accumulating 16 points in the league phase.

One of their victories was against Madrid, with goals from Erling Braut Haaland and Nico O’Reilly steering them to a 2-1 win.

It was only their second win in eight visits to the Bernabeu (D2, L4), but City also claimed crucial wins against Napoli, Villarreal, Borussia Dortmund and Galatasaray.

City have been busy on the domestic front in recent weeks. Out of nine matches across English competitions, Pep Guardiola’s side have won seven and drawn two.

However, one of those draws came against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. That result left City seven points behind leaders Arsenal.

They picked themselves up with a thumping 3-1 victory over Newcastle United to reach the FA Cup quarter-final last weekend.

Guardiola is now gearing up for his 190th Champions League game as a manager, which will draw him level with Sir Alex Ferguson.

However, he has his work cut out considering his side have won only two of their last eight Champions League games on the road (D1, L5).

City have also lost seven of their last 10 two-legged ties against Spanish teams in UEFA competitions.

How Man City could line up

Guardiola is poised to ring the changes from the side that sent Newcastle packing in the FA Cup.

Several heavy-hitters are expected to return to the team, including Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is poised to replace James Trafford in goal.

Matheus Nunes should be joined by Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi and Rayan Ait-Nouri in defence.

Rodri should also return to midfield alongside O’Reilly, while Bernardo Silva, Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush line up behind Haaland.