Real Madrid and Manchester City play this Wednesday in a crucial duel for the sixth round of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league phase. The match takes place at Estádio Santiago Bernabéu, at Madri, at 4pm Spanish local time (CET) or 5pm Brasília time. The confrontation can define positions in the table, with the top eight guaranteeing a direct place in the round of 16 and the others between 9th and 24th place going to playoffs.
The Real Madrid seeks recovery after an irregular phase, while the Manchester City aims for consolidation. The transmission on Brasil is carried out by TNT on closed TV and HBO Max on streaming, allowing broad access to fans. Arbitragem French woman commands the game, ensuring high standards of supervision.
- Local time: 4pm (CET, Madri)
- Broadcast Brasil: TNT and HBO Max
- Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu (capacity for 81 thousand fans)
These details make planning easier for fans following a star-studded European classic.
Streaming and accessing the game
The match Real Madrid x Manchester City will have full coverage on Brasil via TNT, a pay TV channel specializing in international sporting events. The signal starts 30 minutes before kick-off, with pre-game analysis and comments in Portuguese.
In streaming, HBO Max offers a wireless option, with HD quality and interactive features such as instant replays. Assinantes can watch on multiple devices, ideal for those who prefer mobility.
Moment of Real Madrid at Champions
The Spanish team occupies 5th place with 12 points, the result of four wins and one defeat in five games. The recent victory over Olympiacos boosted morale, but the defense suffers from prolonged absences.
Xabi Alonso faces pressure in his position, focusing on tactical adjustments to contain the opponent’s attack. The team scored 12 goals in the competition, but conceded five, exposing vulnerabilities in transitions.
Summons from the base, such as Valdepeñas and Joan Martínez, reinforce the squad amid absences. The coach prioritizes defensive compactness to exploit counterattacks.
Merengues’ defensive challenges
Injuries directly impact the defensive sector of Real Madrid. Éder Militão, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy are out with muscle problems, while Dani Carvajal and Dean Huijsen are dealing with knee injuries.
Camavinga and Trent Alexander-Arnold complete the list of confirmed casualties, forcing improvisations. Rüdiger takes the lead in defense, alongside Raúl Asencio, in an adapted formation of four defenders.
Mbappé appears as the main doubt, with discomfort in his left leg that kept him away from training. Caso absent, Rodrygo gains a place in the attack, changing the offensive balance.
These obstacles test the depth of the squad, built for multiple competitions.
Current situation of Manchester City
Citizens fell to 8th place with 10 points after defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. Apesar Furthermore, the team remains unbeaten in four of the five games in Champions, with three wins and one draw.
In Premier League, the pursuit of Arsenal boosts the collective form, with 10 goals scored in the European competition. Pep Guardiola praises the resilience, but warns against adjustments in excessive rotations.
The focus is on offensive efficiency, where Erling Haaland leads with decisive contributions. The team travels with a full squad, except for chronic injuries to the midfielders.
Absences and adaptations in City
John Stones, Mateo Kovacic and Rodri do not travel due to knee and calf injuries. Bernardo Silva assumes greater responsibility in midfield, while Josko Gvardiol reinforces the defense.
Guardiola tests variations with Nico González and Tijjani Reijnders to fill gaps. The 4-3-3 formation prioritizes possession of the ball, aiming to neutralize the opponent’s quick transitions.
These changes maintain the tactical fluidity, characteristic of the Catalan coach’s style.
Probable lineups in detail
Real Madrid should line up in 4-3-3 with Thibaut Courtois in goal, protected by Álvaro Carreras, Raúl Asencio, Antonio Rüdiger and Federico Valverde in the defensive line. In the middle, Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Dani Ceballos dictate the pace, while Vini Jr, Kylian Mbappé (or
By Manchester City, Gianluigi Donnarumma guards the posts, with Nico O’Reilly, Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias and Matheus Nunes behind. Bernardo Silva, Nico González and Tijjani Reijnders control the center, and Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden finish.
These formations reflect balancing strategies between defense and attack.
- Real Madrid: Courtois; Carreras, Asencio, Rüdiger, Valverde; Bellingham, Tchouaméni, Ceballos; Vini Jr, Mbappé/Rodrygo, Güler
- Manchester City: Donnarumma; O’Reilly, Gvardiol, Dias, Nunes; Silva, González, Reijnders; Doku, Haaland, Foden
- Technician Real: Xabi Alonso
- Technician City: Pep Guardiola
Recent history of clashes
The teams faced each other in February 2025, with a 3-1 Spanish victory at Bernabéu. Nos last five duels, balanced with two wins for each side and a draw, totaling 18 goals.
Real Madrid has home advantage in Champions, unbeaten in the last three games at the stadium. Manchester City, however, dominates with an average possession of 62% in these clashes.
Factors such as intensity and comebacks mark the rivalry, with Mbappé and Haaland as individual highlights.
French arbitration in charge
Clément Turpin referees the main game, assisted by Nicolas Danos and Benjamin Pagès at the flags. The Frenchman, with experience in 45 Champions matches, adopts strict criteria when it comes to tactical fouls.
Jérôme Brisard operates the VAR, supported by Sören Storks as AVAR. The quartet guarantees impartiality, with a history of few controversies in high-caliber duels.
Turpin averages 4.2 cards per game, focusing on flow control.
Importance of the round in the table
This sixth round directly influences the final rankings of the league phase. With eight total games, the top 8 advances directly, while playoffs await those in between.
Real Madrid needs points to move up, threatened by close rivals. Manchester City seeks recovery to enter the G8 and avoid the knockout stages.
The current table reflects competitiveness, with tight margins in points and goal difference.
