Real Madrid vs Manchester City: Prediction, Lineups & Kickoff Time | UEFA Champions League 2025/26

On: December 9, 2025 4:39 AM

Real Madrid vs Manchester City Prediction, Lineups & Kickoff Time UEFA Champions League 2025/26

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Real Madrid vs Manchester City — Match Preview

A colossal European night awaits at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday, 10 December 2025. The two titans of modern football collide in Matchday 6 of the Champions League. Real Madrid sit comfortably in 5th place (12 points) after a chaotic 4–3 win over Olympiacos, while Manchester City are under pressure in 9th (10 points) following a shock 0–2 loss to Bayer Leverkusen. A win for Real Madrid virtually guarantees a top-8 finish and automatic qualification. Manchester City need a result to avoid slipping into the playoff danger zone.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City — Match Info

Competition: UEFA Champions League (Matchday 6)
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid (Capacity: 83,186)
Date: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Kickoff: 21:00 CET | 20:00 GMT | 01:30 IST (Thursday)
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)

Real Madrid vs Manchester City — Match Stakes

Real Madrid (5th — 12 pts):

Win → Moves to 15 pts; likely secures Top 4 spot
Draw → Safe; maintains unbeaten home record
Loss → Could drop to 7th or 8th, risking a tougher knockout draw

Manchester City (9th — 10 pts):

Win → Huge leap into the Top 8 (Automatic Qualification spots)
Draw → Keeps them on the borderline of the playoff places
Loss → Disaster; likely drops them to 12th-15th, forcing a playoff round

Real Madrid vs Manchester City — Team News

Real Madrid:

Alexander-Arnold T. — Out (Quad Injury)
Carvajal D. — Out (Knee Injury)
Mendy F. — Out (Muscle Injury)
Alaba D. — Doubtful (Fitness)
Camavinga E. — Available (Returned from knock)

Manchester City:

Rodri — Questionable (Lack of fitness)
Kovacic M. — Out (Ankle Injury)
Bobb O. — Out (Leg Fracture)
De Bruyne K. — Available (Rested vs Sunderland)

Real Madrid vs Manchester City — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)

Real Madrid

03/12 — 3–0 vs Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
01/12 — 1–1 vs Girona (La Liga)
27/11 — 4–3 vs Olympiacos (UCL)
24/11 — 2–2 vs Elche (La Liga)
09/11 — 0–0 vs Rayo Vallecano (La Liga)

Manchester City

06/12 — 3–0 vs Sunderland (Premier League)
03/12 — 5–4 vs Fulham (Premier League)
29/11 — 3–2 vs Leeds (Premier League)
26/11 — 0–2 vs Bayer Leverkusen (UCL)
22/11 — 1–2 vs Newcastle (Premier League)

Real Madrid vs Manchester City — Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)

20/02/2025 — Real Madrid 3–1 Man City (UCL)
12/02/2025 — Man City 2–3 Real Madrid (UCL)
18/04/2024 — Man City 1–1 Real Madrid (UCL – Real won on pens)
09/04/2024 — Real Madrid 3–3 Man City (UCL)
17/05/2023 — Man City 4–0 Real Madrid (UCL)

Real Madrid vs Manchester City — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)

Real Madrid (4-3-1-2)

Courtois T.; Asencio R., Militao E., Rudiger A., Carreras A.; Valverde F., Tchouameni A., Camavinga E.; Bellingham J.; Mbappe K., Vinicius Jr.

Manchester City (4-1-4-1)

Donnarumma G.; Lewis R., Dias R., Gvardiol J., Aït-Nouri R.; Reijnders T.; Savinho, De Bruyne K., Foden P., Doku J.; Haaland E.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City — Impact Bench

Real Madrid: Endrick (Explosive late sub), Arda Güler (Creative spark)

Manchester City: Bernardo Silva (Control), Rayan Cherki (Dribbling vs tired legs)

Real Madrid vs Manchester City — Tactical Analysis

Real Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti’s side has been leaking goals domestically (see the draws vs Elche and Girona), but their attack is blistering. Without Carvajal or Alexander-Arnold, they are vulnerable on the right flank. They will rely on the “diamond” midfield to control the center, allowing Vinicius and Mbappe to drift wide and exploit City’s high line on the break.

Manchester City

City’s defense is in crisis, having conceded 8 goals in their last 4 league games (including 4 vs Fulham!). Without Rodri fully fit, they lack their usual screen. Pep Guardiola will likely try to overload the midfield with Foden and De Bruyne to keep possession away from Real, but the pace of Mbappe vs Gvardiol/Dias is a terrifying mismatch on current form.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City — Key Battles

Rudiger vs Haaland — the ultimate physical duel
Vinicius Jr vs Rico Lewis — pace vs tactical positioning
Bellingham vs Reijnders — battle for midfield energy
Mbappe vs Dias — can City’s captain stop the world’s best?

Real Madrid vs Manchester City — Spotlight Players

Real Madrid — Kylian Mbappe

The Frenchman lives for these nights. With 9 goals in the UCL already, he is chasing Ronaldo’s records. If City leave space behind, he will punish them.

Manchester City — Erling Haaland

He has been quiet in recent big games against Madrid (kept silent by Rudiger). He needs to find a way to escape the German’s shadow if City want to leave the Bernabéu alive.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City — Prediction

Real Madrid 3–2 Manchester City

Both defenses are shaky right now, but Real Madrid’s “Bernabéu magic” and the sheer speed of their transition play gives them the edge over a City side that looks chaotic at the back. Expect goals, drama, and a home win.