Sport|FootballReal Madrid vs Man City: Champions League preview – teams, start, lineupsPressure mounting on Real coach as Manchester City visit in the league phase of football's UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
## Sports Update: UEFA Champions League Match Preview
Sports Update: UEFA Champions League Match Preview
Date & Time: Wednesday, Dec 10, 2025, at 9 pm (20:00 GMT)
Coverage: Follow the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT.
Real Madrid currently holds the fifth position in the Champions League standings with 12 points, trailing leaders Arsenal by three points. Manchester City stands in ninth place with 10 points, aiming for a top-eight finish to secure direct qualification to the last 16.
In their recent match, Real Madrid suffered a 2-0 defeat against Celta Vigo, reducing their squad to nine players after red cards were issued to defenders Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras. This result places them second in La Liga, four points behind leaders Barcelona, with only two wins in their last seven matches across competitions.
Manchester City achieved a 3-0 victory over Sunderland in the English Premier League, maintaining their pursuit of a fifth title in six seasons. Goals were scored by Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Phil Foden.
Date & Time: Wednesday, Dec 10, 2025, at 9 pm (20:00 GMT) Coverage: Follow the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT.
Real Madrid faces potential challenges with injuries affecting key players, including Kylian Mbappe, who sustained a muscle injury and missed training. Other injured players include Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, and Eduardo Camavinga.
Manchester City's defender John Stones missed the recent match against Sunderland due to an unspecified injury. Mateo Kovacic and Rodri remain unavailable due to injuries.
Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Carreras; Tchouameni, Ceballos; Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Garcia
Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gonzalez; Cherki, Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland
Real Madrid's manager, Xabi Alonso, expressed confidence in the team's ability to rebound despite recent setbacks. He emphasized the importance of unity and adapting to challenges.
Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, expressed his support for Alonso, acknowledging the challenging nature of the football season and the process of team development.
This match marks the 13th encounter between Real Madrid and Manchester City over the past decade. The rivalry has been significant, with the clubs collectively winning three of the last four Champions League titles.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.