For the fifth time in the last six years, Real Madrid must face Manchester City in the Champions League knockout stage.
Although Real Madrid got their shaky European title defense back on track at the end of the league phase, they still wound up drawing Manchester City in the knockout phase playoffs. The two sides have produced some of the most memorable Champions League matches of the last five years, and Los Blancos will hope to recreate some of the magic from their penalty shootout victory last year.
If Carlo Ancelotti's men want to leave Manchester with a win, though, they must do something they have never done before—defeat Manchester City at the Etihad. They will also have to overcome the defending English champions with a makeshift backline.
Lucas Vázquez is the latest Real Madrid defender to suffer an injury and joins Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão on the sidelines. Now, Ancelotti will rely on two midfielders to round out his backline against Erling Haaland.
Here's what Real Madrid's XI could look like against Pep Guardiola's men on Feb. 11.






