Real Madrid faces Manchester City 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.
Vinícius Júnior starts as a starter in the confirmed lineup, playing on the left wing after recovering from muscle fatigue last week. The Brazilian striker, with five goals in the competition, forms the offensive trio alongside Rodrygo and Gonzalo García.
Xabi Alonso, coach of the Whites, chose to maintain the offensive base despite the defensive injuries, aiming to explore counterattacks against City possession. Pep Guardiola is looking for points to climb the table, where the English occupy 12th place with 10 points.
Referee Clément Turpin referees the game, averaging 3.38 cards per game in the league.
- Real Madrid has 12 points in five games, with an unbeaten record at home.
- Manchester City scored 10 goals in the phase, led by Haaland with nine.
- Last clash ended 3-1 for Real, with a goal from Vinícius Júnior.
Vinícius Júnior leads the starting attack in an offensive scheme
Vinícius Júnior enters the field with 3.1 dribbles per game in Champions, creating chances in 62% of attacks from the left. The Brazilian scored in the last two European duels, pressing opposing defenses with speed.
The 4-2-3-1 lineup places the attacker alongside Bellingham in the middle and Rodrygo on the right, with Gonzalo García centralized. Kylian Mbappé starts on the bench due to muscle discomfort, but can substitute in the second half.
Alonso praised Vinícius’s form in the collective, highlighting his ability to create imbalances in quick transitions. The fans fill the Bernabéu, with banners supporting the Brazilian cast.
The tactical focus is to explore spaces behind the high line of City, with Vinícius as the centerpiece in the baseline plays.
Full lineup reveals defensive improvisations
Thibaut Courtois defends Real Madrid’s goal, with Federico Valverde on the right flank due to injuries in the sector. Antonio Rüdiger and Raúl Asencio form the central duo, while Álvaro Carreras closes on the left.
Aurélien Tchouaméni and Dani Ceballos anchor the midfield, with Jude Bellingham moving forward to create. Rodrygo, Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior complete the line of three, supporting Gonzalo García in attack.
Manchester City lines up in 4-3-3 with Gianluigi Donnarumma on goal, Matheus Nunes on the right and Nico O’Reilly on the left. Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol centralize the defense.
Bernardo Silva, Nico González and Tijjani Reijnders control the midfield, with Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and Rodri remains out with a thigh injury.
Defensive bruises test Real’s resilience
Real Madrid deals with six absences in the defensive sector, including Éder Militão with a torn biceps femoris and Dani Carvajal post-knee surgery. David Alaba and Ferland Mendy complete the list of confirmed embezzlements.
These losses force Asencio, 19 years old, to debut as a starter in Champions, alongside Rüdiger with a 78% success rate in tackles. Treinos of the week prioritized compression to mitigate risks.
Despite the problems, the team maintained a clean sheet in the last two home games in the league, conceding an average of 1.2 goals per game in the competition. Alonso adjusted zonal marking to counteract Haaland.
The preparation included simulations against high possession, with an emphasis on quick recoveries in the final third.
Haaland and Doku boost City’s offensive
Erling Haaland leads with nine goals in Champions, converting 65% of shots in recent duels. The Norwegian scored in four of the five games in the phase, exploiting aerial balls.
Jeremy Doku contributes 2.8 dribbles per game, while Foden registers four assists in the league. Guardiola tested lateral inversions in training, aiming for width in the attack.
City has 65% average possession, but has conceded seven goals away from home in the competition. Bernardo Silva sets the pace with 85% of successful passes, assuming captaincy.
The team won three games in a row in the Premier League, taking eight points out of a possible 10 as a visitor in the UCL.
Streaming options cover multiple platforms
TNT shows the game live on Brasil from 4:30 pm, with an HD signal for pay-per-view subscribers. HBO Max allows simultaneous streaming on mobile devices and connected TVs.
On the Estados Unidos, the Paramount+ broadcasts with narration in English, accessible via the app. Na Europa, DAZN covers the official UEFA signal, including real-time analysis.
UEFA applications provide data such as ball possession and shots, updated every minute. Emissoras radio stations like ESPN offer full narration from kickoff to finish.
The pre-game includes interviews with coaches, preparing the audience for the Champions anthem.
Historical rivalry balances predictions
The teams meet for the 15th time in Champions, with six wins each and three draws on record. The last duel, in February 2025, ended 3-1 for Real at Bernabéu, with Vinícius Júnior scoring the second goal.
In Madri, the Spanish won five, drew two and lost two, scoring 14 goals against 10 from the English. The series has included intense semi-finals since 2016, with aggregate upsets.
Both have accumulated 15 European titles, representing the top of the continent. The league format facilitates reunions, with an average of 2.9 goals per game between them.
Vinícius Júnior has three goals in four duels against City, exploiting flaws in marking.
Alonso and Guardiola’s tactical approaches collide
Xabi Alonso adopts medium block with selective pressure, using Vinícius speed for counterattacks. Treinos focused on covering Haaland, with Tchouaméni playing the role of libero.
Pep Guardiola prioritizes possession above 60%, with Doku flipping to the middle in simulations. The Catalan adjusted for absences, praising the cohesion of the midfield in the press conference.
Alonso, with experience in European duels, bets on intensity; Guardiola, in patient control. Substituições like Mbappé can change the balance in the range.
The clash tests adaptations, with Real improvising three defensive positions for the second time this season.
League table demands immediate positive result
With 12 points, Real Madrid aims for the top-4 to qualify directly for the round of 16, avoiding playoffs. Vitória adds 15, approaching the leader Arsenal with 16.
Manchester City, in 12th with 10, needs to win to gain six positions and safety. Derrota complicates the advance, forcing knockouts against third parties.
The phase has eight rounds, with the first eight advancing directly. Critério tiebreaker includes away goals, giving value to the home score.
The teams have scored a collective 22 goals in the competition so far.
