Manchester City Has 1% Opportunities Against Real Madrid

Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City has a slim chance of turning things around against Real Madrid in the Champions League (Instagram/@mancity).

JAKARTA - Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City have a one-percent chance of keeping their hopes in the Champions League by beating Real Madrid in the second leg of the knockout phase of the playoffs on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid, who won the Champions League for the 16th time by beating Borussia Dortmund in last season's final at Wembley, claimed a 3-2 first leg victory at Etihad last week.

Los Blancos scored twice in the last four minutes to reverse the 1-2 deficit following Erling Haaland's previous two goals for Manchester City.

Manchester City have only won once in Bernabeu - a 2-1 win in the last 16 in February 2020 - and had to beat Carlo Ancelotti's team in Madrid to avoid being eliminated early in the tournament this year.

Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach Guardiola admits that The Citizens must fight hard in Bernabeu. However, he said they had a small chance to reach the next round.

"Margin to win at the Bernabeu in that position (was 2-2 behind), everyone knows if you ask before the game, the percentage to qualify, I don't know. We reached one percent or I don't know what."

"It will be very small, but as long as you have the opportunity, we will try, that's for sure, you know?"

"The opportunity is very small because the results are not good. With a score of 2-1, the results will be different."

"However, with a score of 2-3, the chances are smaller. Even so, as long as you have the opportunity, we will take it. We'll see what happens," said Guardiola.

Manchester City has had their worst season in 2024/2025 since Guardiola took over in 2016.

The Citizens have lost 12 games in all competitions and lost hope of winning the title in the middle of the season.

Guardiola admits that, despite the disappointing season, home win 4-0 against Newcastle United on Saturday, February 15, 2025, could be a stepping stone for recovery ahead of the final weeks of the season.

"Listen, there are lots, we don't play many games at the level we play. In the end, we lose."

"It's not just three points, but how it affects our minds for the next game."

"It happened many times. This season, the reality is that we have traveled long distances," said Guardiola.