Manchester City faces Real Madrid this Wednesday, December 10, 2025, in the sixth round of the UEFA Champions League league phase. The match takes place at Estádio Santiago Bernabéu, at Madri, Espanha, starting at 5pm at Brasília time.
Gianluigi Donnarumma starts as a starter in the confirmed lineup, defending the goal after four games in the competition with three clean sheets. The Italian, signed from PSG in September, has 80% of saves in the European league.
Pep Guardiola opts for the base that beat Sunderland 3-0 in Premier League, prioritizing defensive solidity against Real’s attack. Xabi Alonso seeks rehabilitation after defeat to Celta of Vigo, with Real sixth in the table with 12 points.
Referee Clément Turpin commands the duel, with an average of 3.38 cards per match in Champions.
- Manchester City occupies 12th place with 10 points from five games.
- Donnarumma recorded 24 saves in four European appearances.
- Recent history favors Real, with a 3-1 victory in the last meeting.
Donnarumma takes on goal with solid season performance
Gianluigi The 26-year-old Italian goalkeeper stood out with decisive saves against Leverkusen in the previous round.
The 4-3-3 formation positions Donnarumma behind an experienced defensive line, with Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol in the center. Guardiola praised the former PSG player’s quick adaptation in the pre-game press conference, emphasizing his physical presence at 1.97m.
The Italian signed for five years with City in September, replacing Ederson who moved to Fenerbahce. The visiting fans expect contributions in passing the ball, with 85% of correct passes.
Training sessions this week focused on positioning against Vinícius Júnior shots, with Donnarumma tested in counterattack simulations.
Full lineup highlights balance between lines
Gianluigi Donnarumma defends Manchester City’s goal, with Matheus Nunes on the right flank and Nico O’Reilly on the left. Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol form the central duo, with a 78% success rate in collective tackles.
In midfield, Bernardo Silva, Nico González and Tijjani Reijnders anchor, with Phil Foden advancing to create. Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki lead the attack, exploring width and depth.
Real Madrid lines up in 4-2-3-1 with Thibaut Courtois in goal, Federico Valverde improvised in defense. Antonio Rüdiger and Raúl Asencio center, while Aurélien Tchouaméni and Jude Bellingham control the middle.
Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Gonzalo García finish, with Kylian Mbappé on the bench due to muscular discomfort.
Defensive absences challenge Real Madrid at home
Real Madrid has seven injuries in the defensive sector, including Éder Militão with a rupture in the femoral biceps and Dani Carvajal after knee surgery. David Alaba, Ferland Mendy and Dean Huijsen complete the confirmed absences.
These losses force improvisations, with 19-year-old Asencio starting for the second time in Champions alongside Rüdiger. Alonso adjusted training for compression, aiming to mitigate City’s 65% possession.
The team conceded an average of 1.4 goals per game in the competition, but remained unbeaten at home with three victories. The strategy includes high pressure to force errors in the opponent’s construction.
The preparation prioritized transitions, focusing on set pieces where Real converts 42% of the chances.
Haaland boosts attack with impressive numbers
Erling Haaland leads with nine goals in Champions, an average of 2.25 per game in European duels. The Norwegian has scored in the last four games, exploiting Doku crosses with a 65% accuracy rate.
Phil Foden contributes four assists, while Cherki registers 2.5 dribbles per game in the league. Guardiola testou variações de 4-3-3 nos treinos, priorizando inversões de laterais para o meio.
City scored 12 goals in the phase, but conceded six away from home. Bernardo Silva, captain, sets the pace with 82% of completed passes, taking the lead in absences like Rodri.
The team won the last three games in the Premier League, taking 10 points out of 12 possible as a visitor in the UCL.
Broadcast channels offer broad access
TNT broadcasts the game live on Brasil from 4:30 pm, with a high definition signal for subscribers. HBO Max releases simultaneous streaming on apps and smart TVs, covering bids in real time.
In Estados Unidos, Paramount+ shows with narration in English, accessible via monthly subscription. Na Europa, DAZN provides the official UEFA signal, including statistics such as possession and shots.
UEFA apps update data every minute, with tactical analysis during intervals. Emissoras radio stations like ESPN offer full narration, from the anthem to the final whistle.
The pre-game highlights lineups, preparing the public for the elite clash.
Past clashes reveal historical balance
Manchester City and The last one, in February 2025, ended 3-1 for the Spanish, with two goals in the second half.
In Bernabéu, Real won five, drew two and lost two, scoring 15 goals against 11 from the English. The rivalry has included landmark semi-finals since 2016, with aggregates decided by details.
Both have 15 European titles, continental elite. The league format promotes reunions, with an average of 3.1 goals per match between them.
Donnarumma hasn’t faced Real before, but his European debut for City was a clean sheet against Leverkusen.
Guardiola tactics test exposed defenses
Pep Guardiola adopts possession above 60%, with Doku reversing to create numerical superiority. Treinos emphasized passing the ball with Donnarumma, aiming to neutralize the pressure from Real.
Xabi Alonso responds with a medium block, using speed of Vinícius for counterattacks. The Spaniard adjusted due to injuries, praising the cohesion in the pre-game press conference.
Guardiola, with a 70% winning record in Champions, is betting on patience; Alonso in intensity. Substituições like Mbappé can change the flow in the second half.
The game evaluates adaptations, with City maintaining the same starting lineup for the third consecutive match.
Position in the ranking defines immediate directions
With 10 points, Manchester City needs a victory to climb to the top-8 and guarantee direct knockout stages, avoiding playoffs. Triunfo adds 13, approaching fourth place with 14.
Real Madrid, in sixth with 12, aims to consolidate for the knockout phase without risks. Derrota exposes the team to a tiebreaker on away goals, complicating the campaign.
The league phase includes eight rounds, with goal difference criteria prioritizing home results. The teams have scored a collective 24 goals in the competition so far.
