Real Madrid 2-1 Man City – Champions League quarter-final LIVE: Live score, team news and updates as incredible start in Madrid sees Spanish giants come from behind to lead

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor and host of the ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ Podcast, at the Bernabeu:

Real Madrid – as we feared – are having far too much joy when they have the ball in the City half. They are finding pockets of space on which to work and that is leading to shots and half chances

For City, it’s about hanging in there at the moment as the next goal is obviously crucial in the context of the night and the tie.

Up front Erling Haaland is having one of those nights when he just isn’t in the game. Roy Keane – who recently likened his build-up play to that of a League Two player – will doubtless have a view…

Man City are attempting to restore some calm with the visitors dominating the ball for the last couple of minutes.

The whistles from the Real Madrid fans are back.

Real Madrid keep on coming.

Valverde tries his luck and forces a save from Ortega.

The hosts are shooting on sight and it has worked so far.

Astonishing.

The crazy start continues as Rodrygo puts Real Madrid ahead, with the aid of another deflection.

The Brazilian is sent racing through on the Man City goal but still has a lot of work to do.

Rodrygo is tracked by two Man City defenders and the onrushing Ortega. His low effort takes a slight nick and squirms into the bottom corner.

City are stunned.

I did say this would not stay 1-0!

A huge slice of luck for Real Madrid as Camavinga brings the hosts level.

The Frenchman lines one up from distance and it takes a wicked deflection off Ruben Dias and flies past a helpless Ortega in the Man City goal!

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor and host of the ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ Podcast, at the Bernabeu:

That City goal was born of some classic Jack Grealish football.

The City forward got on the front foot and drove straight through the heart of the Real Madrid midfield, drawing a rather desperate foul from Aurelien Tchoumameni. From the resulting free kick, City scored…

Incredible start here. Home crowd already piling the pressure on the French referee but they’ve had no change out of him so far.

The frantic start continues.

Haaland is denied with a shot from the angle by Lunin, but Man City keep coming.

Grealish has a shot blocked in the crowd and Real Madrid scramble the ball to safety.

I’ll be amazed if this stays at 1-0.

Real Madrid look for an instant response with Bellingham and Vinicius leading the charge forward.

The hosts want a free kick when Bellingham goes down under a challenge.

Vinicius blocks a clearance that goes behind for a goal kick.

What a start for Man City!

The defending champions lead in Madrid two minutes. Bernardo Silva goes for goal direct from the free kick.

His low effort beats the wall and the dive of Lunin in the Real Madrid goal.

It is poor from Lunin, who should have done much better.

The Bernabeu is silenced as Silva races away in celebration.

Tchouameni is in the book after 40 seconds after chopping down Jack Grealish.

He is now ruled out of the second leg through suspension.

We are underway in Madrid.

Whistles greet the first Man City touches.

Some love though between Guardiola and Ancelotti as the two coaches exhange words ahead of kick-off after the Champions League anthems play.

We are almost ready to go!

This should be a cracker!

Mail Sport’s Jack Gaughan at the Bernabeu:

Some real heat for Pep Guardiola when the PA announcer read his name out.

Never going to win too many friends around here!

Real Madrid’s fans are creating quite the atmosphere, with supporters all decked out in white.

The teams are now in the tunnel, which gives me the chance to remind you of the team news with kick-off just minutes away.

Real Madrid: Lunin, Carvajal, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Mendy, Kroos, Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo.

Man City: Ortega, Akanji, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, Kovacic, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Haaland.

‘Vomiting’ was Pep Guardiola’s response when asked by TNT Sports about Kevin De Bruyne’s absence from the starting line-up.

Guardiola confirmed the Belgian had been due to start but was forced to pull out, with Kovacic coming into the team.

Sofascore have provided the numbers for Real Madrid and Man City in the Champions League this season.

Man City have been perfect in the competition so far with eight straight wins.

Pep Guardiola’s side have also scored and created more expected goals than Real Madrid in the competition this season.

Real have been conceding less goals and big chances than the defending champions.

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor and host of the ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ Podcast, at the Bernabeu:

Two main concerns for City as we approach kick off in Madrid.

The absence of Kevin de Bruyne – currently struggling with a sickness bug – and the way that Crystal Palace occasionally got through their midfield and on to their back four in the Premier League game at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

City won that game well by a 4-1 scoreline in the end but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Rodri and Mateo Kovacic will have to be resolute tonight.

It will not surprise anyone to learn that Real Madrid’s recent quarter-final record in the Champions League is extremely impressive.

Real have progressed from their last 11 quarter-finals in the competition.

However, Man City have lost only once in their last 12 games against Spanish opposition.

The new roof is one of several new features at the Bernabeu following the stadium’s £1.5 billion face lift.

The 83,186-capacity arena now boasts a retractable pitch, 360-degree video screen, skywalk and exclusive nightclub.

Following on from Ian Ladyman’s suggestion about a pop concert, it is no surprise that Taylor Swift has two dates at the venue next month.

Wonder if Florentino Perez is kicking himself after seeing Fulham’s recent plans for a rooftop swimming pool at Craven Cottage…

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor and host of the ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ Podcast, at the Bernabeu:

So the roof is closed and I must say that it feels more fitting for a pop concert than a football match. Slightly odd decision by Real Madrid, in my opinion.

Spoke to someone at Man City about it this morning and they were pretty phlegmatic about it. In truth, it shouldn’t affect what happens on the field.

City are favourites to go through and that feels right. They will miss Kyle Walker as they seek to becalm Vinicius Jnr but I wouldn’t say there was any need to panic.

A draw here is a good result for City. I can’t really see Real beating them at the Etihad.

Carlo Ancelotti has been speaking to Spanish broadcaster Movistar ahead of his 200th match as a coach in the Champions League.

Presuambly with one eyebrow famously raised…

‘My 200 games are not the most important thing today, but they are a lot of games,’ Ancelotti said.

‘200 games of nerves, of suffering.

‘This is a competition that has given me a lot of happiness throughout my career as a player and coach. It is still the most beautiful competition.’

Real Madrid have succeeded in a request to UEFA to close the Bernabeu roof ahead of tonight’s match.

The Spanish giants have aimed at making the atmosphere as hostile as possible, which they hope will be enhanced by the roof closure.

The retractable roof was installed during the extensive renovations of the stadium and was used for the last-16 home tie against RB Leipzig.

Will it make a difference?

Seems like a compliment to Man City to me.

An update from Mail Sport’s Jack Gaughan in Madrid.

Will be interesting to see if De Bruyne features at all in that case.

Pep Guardiola’s team news is always fascinating.

The Man City boss restores Phil Foden to the starting line-up as expected after resting him against Crystal Palace at the weekend.

Foden comes in for Kevin de Bruyne, who drops to the bench despite scoring twice against the Eagles.

Stefan Ortega keeps his place in goal with Ederson remaining on the bench.

Gvardiol is fit to start having been a doubt.

Carlo Ancelotti will make Champions League history this evening as he becomes the first coach to take charge of 200 matches in the competition.

The 64-year-old last year overtook Sir Alex Ferguson to be the manager with the most overall matches.

Ancelotti has won 114 of his previous 199 fixtures in the Champions League, with the Italian having lifted the famous trophy four times as a coach.

Guardiola will be taking charge of his 170th match in the competition. His record stands at 109 wins, 34 draws and 26 defeats.

Security has been heightened at all Champions League fixtures this week after an ISIS media outlet shared a post on social media with a threat towards all stadiums hosting quarter-final first legs.

Spanish and French ministers have revealed security will be stepped up with all games going ahead as planned.

Athletico Madrid and PSG will be hosting quarter-final matches tomorrow.

The Metropolitan Police have said they are ‘aware of the threat and that a ‘robust policing plan’ was in place for Arsenal’s match with Bayern Munich this evening.

Real Madrid’s team news gives me the perfect opportunity to point you in the direction of a piece by Mail Sport’s Spanish football expert Pete Jenson.

He runs the rule over Real Madrid’s team and whether the LaLiga leaders are in better or worse shape than the side thrashed by Man City last season.

Unsurprisingly Jude Bellingham’s arrival has significantly boosted Real Madrid’s midfield, but there are still areas of concern for Carlo Ancelotti.

Read more:

Real Madrid have been fast out of the blocks in confirming their starting eleven.

Aurelien Tchouameni looks to be starting at centre back alongside Antonio Rudiger.

Lunin continues in goal with Thibaut Courtois still absent through injury.

Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr will form Real Madrid’s attacking trio.

Real Madrid: Lunin; Carvajal, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Mendy; Camavinga, Valverde, Kroos; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr.

With Man City remaining in the race for the Premier League title and FA Cup glory, the prospect of a double Treble remains a possibility.

Pep Guardiola has been keen to play down talk of a repeat ahead of the latest installment of their Champions League rivalry with Real Madrid.

City got the better of the Spanish giants in 2020 and last season, but Real Madrid emerged as 6-5 winners on aggregate in 2022.

The Spanish giants remarkably scored twice after the 90 minutes to force extra time, before Rodrygo completed a dramatic comeback.

Mail Sport’s Jack Gaughan takes a look at the tie ahead:

Real Madrid and Man City had played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, but the return fixture proved a different story.

Guardiola’s side cruised to a 4-0 win over the 14-time winners to book their place in the final.

Will Man City be able to achieve a repeat this time around as they seek to establish themselves as the dominant force in Europe.

The Champions League holders against the record 14-time winners.

It does not get much better than this.

Manchester City’s bid for back to back Champions League triumphs face Real Madrid once again.

Pep Guardiola’s side brushed aside Real Madrid in last season’s semi-finals on their march to a maiden Champions League triumph and a famous Treble.

The teams meet one round earlier this time with Real Madrid out for revenge.

It promises to be a cracker.

Stay with us for all the build-up, action and reaction from the first leg of a blockbuster Champions League quarter-final tie.