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The UEFA Champions League knockout playoffs draw occurred on Friday, revealing the matchups set for February. Probably the most anticipated clashes will see Manchester Metropolis go head-to-head with Actual Madrid as soon as once more, prompting a response from head coach Pep Guardiola.
After securing qualification with a decisive 3-1 victory over Membership Brugge on the ultimate matchday, Metropolis braced for a tricky opponent within the playoffs—both Bayern Munich or Actual Madrid. The draw finally paired them with the Spanish giants. When requested concerning the matchup throughout his pre-match press convention forward of Metropolis’s recreation in opposition to Arsenal, Guardiola responded with a mixture of humor and willpower.
“It seems like a derby already—4 years in a row dealing with Actual Madrid,” mentioned Guardiola whereas laughing. “Effectively, Madrid and Bayern each have been actually robust… hopefully we will face the primary leg right here and the week later in Madrid as greatest as doable,” he added.
It will mark the fifth time Guardiola faces Actual Madrid whereas managing Manchester Metropolis, with their first assembly relationship again to the 2019-20 season. Now, within the 2024-25 version, the Spanish coach will as soon as once more put together for one of the formidable groups within the competitors—however this time at an earlier stage.
Guardiola’s Champions League document vs. Actual Madrid with Metropolis
Manchester Metropolis and Actual Madrid have established themselves as two of the dominant forces in European soccer lately, resulting in a number of high-stakes encounters within the Champions League. Guardiola has already confronted Actual Madrid 4 instances with Metropolis, and it will mark their fifth showdown:
Earlier Champions League encounters:
2019-20 Spherical of 16: Manchester Metropolis 4-2 Actual Madrid (International rating).21-22 Semifinal: Actual Madrid 6-5 Manchester Metropolis.22-23 Semifinal: Manchester Metropolis 5-1 Actual Madrid.23-24 Quarterfinals: Actual Madrid 4(4)-4(3) Manchester Metropolis (Madrid received on penalties).
With the document standing at two eliminations apiece, Guardiola shall be decided to tip the stability in Metropolis’s favor this time. The primary leg shall be performed on the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, February 11, whereas the second leg is ready for the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, February 18.
A grueling February schedule for Manchester Metropolis
One of many benefits of ending within the high eight of the Champions League league section was avoiding the playoff spherical. Nevertheless, since Metropolis failed to take action, they now face a grueling schedule in February, filled with high-stakes matches.
In the course of the month, Metropolis will play seven matches throughout all competitions: Arsenal on the 2nd, Leyton Orient on the eighth (FA Cup), Actual Madrid on the eleventh, Newcastle United on the fifteenth, Madrid once more on the 18th, Liverpool on the twenty third, and Tottenham spurs on the twenty sixth. With such a difficult fixture record, Guardiola urged his squad to embrace the problem.
“We had the sport in Paris (PSG), after which we needed to face Chelsea, so we have been already there in the midst of tough video games. The schedule is what it’s, within the Premier League everybody has to face one another, however they at all times put the hardest schedules for the European groups, within the necessary phases, and probably the most tough ones,” the coach said.
He then identified that the problem lies extra within the Premier League scheduling relatively than the Champions League itself. “The issue isn’t dealing with Actual Madrid or Bayern—it’s that in between, you’ve gotten Newcastle,” Guardiola mentioned. “They’ve at all times been so sort with the fixture record right now of 12 months. It’s been taking place for years.”
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