Real Madrid v Man City: Gary Neville prediction on Champions League ‘clash of the century’ at Bernabeu

Gary Neville believes Manchester City have a ‘clash of the century’ when they take on Real Madrid in the second-leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday evening.

The Sky Blues have a 4-3 aggregate advantage going into the clash at the Bernabeu, but face the tough task of travelling to the Spanish capital.

Pep Guardiola’s side have form in their favour when playing Los Blancos in the competition, winning three of their last seven meetings.

However, Neville has outlined Real’s ability to bounce back from a goal deficit should strike ‘fear’ into City’s team.

"This is a monstrous game in mid-week for City," he said.

"Manchester City versus Real Madrid is an event. The game last week was, but this on Wednesday is like a heavyweight boxing clash of the century.

"You have one every few years whereby you’ve got this historic club that has basically got this in-built resilience in this competition that punches well above its actual ability.

"Real Madrid were on the canvas a couple of times [against PSG, Chelsea, and at Man City] but they got up, and that is the thing Pep will fear most.”

Despite the Sky Blues’ impressive campaign in the Champions League, reaching the semi-finals for the second consecutive season, Neville thinks Guardiola’s side will have to play better than any previous fixture in order to get to the final.

"However well City play, however good their football is, how much possession they keep, there will be a dangerous beast facing them that doesn’t know how to give in, how to stop, or call it a day. That is what is coming on Wednesday,” he added.

"Whereas Liverpool need[ed] a goal [against Villarreal], Manchester City need the performance of their lives in the Bernabeu.

"This game will have [a] huge impact on Manchester City for the rest of the season, because if they do go out on Wednesday after losing last season’s final to Chelsea disappointingly, there will be a drain on Pep Guardiola and what he and the players want to achieve. It’s a big week."

Guardiola will be hoping to see the return of Kyle Walker on Wednesday, with the latter missing the first-leg through injury.