Real Madrid v Man City: Champions League last 16 betting preview, free tip & TV

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Real Madrid v Manchester City in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Real Madrid
1pt 15-8 Betfred, Paddy Power
Back this tip with Paddy Power here

Team news

Real Madrid
Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio are both sidelined.

Manchester City
Raheem Sterling could be available but Leroy Sane is unlikely to be risked.

Real Madrid v Manchester City match preview

The standout clash of the last 16 pits the Champions League's most successful club against a side who have long been considered the next big thing in European football.

Real Madrid have lifted the trophy seven times since the competition's rebranding, winning the title three years on the spin in manager Zinedine Zidane's previous spell at the club.

But Manchester City's European ventures have not been so successful with the club making the semi-finals of the Champions League only once since their financial metamorphosis in 2008.

Pep Guardiola's side go into this game as winners of their group while Madrid finished as runners-up in their section behind Paris St-Germain, but it's the Spanish outfit who look the better pick at the prices.

Prior to a sloppy 1-0 loss at Levante, where they dominated, Real Madrid had gone 15 matches unbeaten in La Liga courtesy of a rock-solid defence which can blunt a City attack on the slide.

Despite their wealth of forward talent, City have managed to score only three times from their last 70 shots in games against Manchester United, Tottenham, West Ham and Leicester City.

With the gap between City and Liverpool eye-watering, Guardiola's men may lack motivation in the Premier League but to be so far behind is concerning and they will need to be at their sharpest to find the net at the Bernabeu.

• Pep Guardiola's dismal away record in the Champions League

Real Madrid can boast the best defensive record in La Liga this term, shipping only 17 goals in 25 league games, and they are yet to lose at home in the league this campaign.

The Champions League would have already been the priority for City this season but after they were hit with a two-year ban from European competition, subject to appeal, the pressure to lift the trophy went up a gear.

They are not helped by playing matches of little worth in the Premier League while their Spanish counterparts are needing to perform week-in week-out to keep up with La Liga pacesetters Barcelona.

Eden Hazard's absence through injury also hinders Real Madrid far less than the Belgian's reputation might suggest.

He has managed only one goal in 15 games across all competitions this season and the attacking firepower of 18-goal Karim Benzema will be more instrumental to Madrid's gameplan.

City were unconvincing in both of their away knockout fixtures in last season's Champions League and Guardiola's road record in the competition is dodgy to say the least.

They prevailed 3-2 away to Schalke, thanks only to a late free-kick from Leroy Sane and last-gasp Raheem Sterling strike on the break, before losing 1-0 at Tottenham.

Bookmakers have kept Manchester City at the top of the outright market at 4-1 but a trip to the Spanish capital is the kind of test champions-elect should relish and the visitors do not seem in the right mood to conjure up a memorable European night.

Key stat

Real Madrid have lost only three of their last 29 home matches in the Champions League.

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