Man City Women’s tie with Real Madrid: when is it & what form have the sides in the Champions League?

The Blues will progress to the last-16 stage should they eliminate the Spaniards.
Michael Plant
By Michael Plant
Published 24th Aug 2021, 15:53 BST
Manchester City Women. Credit: Getty.Manchester City Women. Credit: Getty.
Manchester City Women. Credit: Getty.

The dates for Manchester City Women’s Champions League tie with Real Madrid have been set.

The first leg in the Spanish capital will be played on Tuesday 31 August (8pm kick-off), before the return leg in Manchester takes place on Wednesday 8 September (7pm kick-off).

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City face Real in the second round of the competition, with the winner over two legs progressing straight to the last-16 group stage.

How does it work?

The knockout format of the last-16 has been replaced by a group stage, with four groups containing four teams. The top two sides from each mini league will progress to the quarter-finals, which, like previous years, are played as knockout rounds.

Barcelona eliminated Man City last year. Credit: Getty.Barcelona eliminated Man City last year. Credit: Getty.
Barcelona eliminated Man City last year. Credit: Getty.

Four sides Barcelona, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich have already qualified for the group stages, with 12 coming from the qualification phase. Seven teams will progress through the ‘Champions Path’ while five will emerge through the ‘League Path’, which City are in.

Round 2 draw in full

Champions Path:

Sparta Praha vs Koge

Osijek vs Breidablik

Vllaznia vs Juventus

Twente vs SL Benfica

Apollon vs Kharkiv

Servette vs Glasgow City

Valerenga vs Hacken

League Path:

Levante v Lyon

Arsenal v Slavia Praha

Real Madrid v Manchester City

Wolfsburg vs Bordeaux

Rosengård vs Hoffenheim

City boss Gareth Taylor. Credit: Getty.City boss Gareth Taylor. Credit: Getty.
City boss Gareth Taylor. Credit: Getty.

City’s Champions League record

The Blues have never progressed further than the semi-finals, a stage they’ve reached twice. On both occasions, in 2017 and 2018, they were eliminated by Lyon.

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Last season, Gareth Taylor’s side made it to the quarter-finals, but were beaten by eventual champions Barcelona.

What do we know about Real Madrid?

The 2020/21 campaign was the club’s first playing under the banner of Real Madrid, having previously operated as Club Deportivo TACON. After the merger, Las Blancas finished second last season, behind Barcelona.

This will be Real Madrid’s first match in the Champions League and should pose a real threat to City over two legs.

Related topics:Real MadridChampions LeagueThe BluesBarcelonaManchester

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