Man City vs Real Madrid: Carlo Ancelotti claims one of Real or City will win Champions League ahead of knockout play-off

11 February 2025, 07:40 | Updated: 11 February 2025, 13:35

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has laid down a marker to their Champions League rivals by saying whoever wins their play-off tie with Manchester City will lift the trophy in May.

This is the fourth year in a row Real and City have met at Europe's top table, with Real emerging victorious twice and Man City the other - leading Ancelotti to dub their rivalry a new 'Clasico' ahead of their latest clash.

In all three of those previous meetings, the victor has gone on to win the Champions League trophy - in Man City's case, for the first time in their history back in 2023.

Both sides find themselves in indifferent form on the continent this season, with City less than half an hour away from dropping out of the competition altogether in the league phase before finally seeing off Club Brugge in their final group game.

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