Real Madrid’s route to this unexpected knockout game was not quite as laden with jeopardy as City’s, but it has not been without its moments of drama.
Three defeats in the group phase have left them with a game against a side they would normally expect to play in the latter stages.
It will not have escaped anyone’s attention – particularly Manchester City’s – that despite sitting on top of La Liga, this is a team that has fallen short whenever they have faced a major side at home or abroad this season.
Defensively it has been carnage, with serious cruciate ligament injuries to major players such as Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, long-term problems with David Alaba and a lengthy absence for Antonio Rudiger.
But defensive problems are only really the tip of the iceberg – as coach Carlo Ancelotti knows better than anyone.
They go into the match against City with a front three of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe plus Jude Bellingham behind.
They have amassed 59 goals this season, but the trouble for Ancelotti is his superstars up front – Bellingham apart – have not always put in the necessary shift defensively.
Real’s wily boss saw potential problems at the start of the season and knew that unless they became more committed to the cause, it was going to be a long season.
The absence of Toni Kroos has made it more difficult for them to have control of games, with Real suffering from not replacing the retired midfielder.
Any money they have spent has not been on replacing Kroos, but rather on Mbappe and other young, precocious talents.
They have also spent a lot of money on rebuilding their stadium, while complaints from the neighbours about noise means that concerts planned to take place at the new ground have been cancelled by the local licensing authorities.
To say this was a ‘nice little earner’ for the club does not even begin to describe the situation. This is a big financial blow to Real.
