SHOCKING TWIST! “Fed up” Manchester City gains rare Champions League edge over Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola had already expressed concern over Manchester City’s packed schedule even before learning their Champions League play-off opponents.
Between late January and early March, City will face Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Nottingham Forest—five of the league’s top six teams along with a historically tricky opponent at a difficult venue. To make matters even more challenging, a two-legged tie against Real Madrid will be squeezed in just before crucial league clashes with Newcastle and Liverpool. Aware of the tough stretch ahead, Guardiola didn’t sugarcoat the challenge.
“Playing Real or Bayern is tough enough, but having Newcastle in the middle makes it even harder. The fixture schedule has been generous to us for years,” he remarked last week, with a hint of sarcasm.
He also pointed out that broadcasters have the final say in scheduling, not the managers. “They don’t consult me on whether playing Tuesday or Wednesday is better. In leagues like Portugal and France, teams play on Friday to prepare for Europe. Before our trip to Paris, we played on Sunday, lost 4-2, and didn’t complain. It’s always been this way; we just deal with it,” Guardiola added.
While City are accustomed to seeing other leagues adjust schedules to support their teams in Europe, they will actually have a rare advantage this time. Their FA Cup match against League One side Leyton Orient kicks off at 12:15 PM on Saturday, giving them more rest before their Champions League tie. In contrast, Real Madrid face a grueling Madrid derby against Atletico eight hours later, a high-stakes battle at the top of La Liga.
Despite not having to travel far for the first leg in Manchester, Real Madrid are reportedly struggling with fixture congestion this season. A December report from Spanish outlet AS highlighted player fatigue, noting that 11 of their 13 away games had started at 9 PM local time.
“We’re exhausted from these late kick-offs. Every time we play away, we don’t get back home until around 3 AM—if we’re lucky. Then we have to train the next day. It’s already tough with so many games, but these schedules make it worse,” a source told the newspaper.
The Champions League first leg in Manchester will mark Real’s 17th late away kick-off in 20 matches, and they’ll have to do it right after a high-intensity clash with Diego Simeone’s Atletico. While this might not guarantee City a decisive advantage, it’s a rare stroke of scheduling fortune that Guardiola’s side isn’t used to getting.
