A rivalry of our times – why Man City & Real are fighting for their lives

Here we go again.

In a Champions League elimination match between Real Madrid and Manchester City. It is transforming into a traditional rivalry today.

The football powerhouses will meet for the fourth time in Europe after the previous four seasons, but there will be a significant difference.

Both parties are fighting for their lives this time, not in the last stages, but to make it to the last 16.

Manchester City’s must-win final encounter with Club Brugge only allowed them to clinch a spot in the standings with a deserved victory.

A problem of their own making? Yes and no.

At the conclusion of the previous Premier League title-winning season, manager Pep Guardiola decided against adding more players, partly because he was unsure of his own future.

He took the English FA’s interest seriously and, for a while, he was 70-29 in favor of becoming the next national team coach, with those around him appointing him to live a quieter life.

He also had faith in his players, the team that won four Premier League titles, before deciding to stay with Manchester City.

In November, City were top of the table and the only team in the top five leagues to be unbeaten. Then the wheels vanished.

The original plan for him and Bernardo Silva to play about one of every three games had been changed when Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva first appeared in August.

As of right now, Gundogan will only be able to play 50% of the games, which will automatically renew his contract.

A significant issue has been Rodri’s cruciate knee ligament rupture and injuries to John Stones and other potential replacements like Manuel Akanji.

The issue has grown worse as a result of an out-of-sorts Phil Foden, Kevin de Bruyne’s struggles to maintain their customary high standards, and Jack Grealish’s inability to demonstrate what a great player he could be.

Despite the fact that it was becoming increasingly obvious that a complete recycling of his squad was required, he decided against his own better judgment and against the advice being offered by many of the people closest to him.

The squad’s biggest names assured him that he would intervene and that they were all with him.

His authority was never questioned, even though some players have imagined their careers elsewhere.

Guardiola also has a body battle. Due to the excessive demands he places on himself, and because everything in his life right now seems unstable, he seems to be picking up every virus that iscirculating.

He isn’t at his best, and he has a lot of emotions, but he still exerts influence and cries for those around him.

In their final match of the season, Paris St-Germain put them to the test just as things appeared to be improving on the field.

Then, after wins against Chelsea and Club Brugge, they were routed 5-1 at Arsenal. The rest of the season is expected to be a hit and miss, as people inside the club say.

With Ruben Dias, Akanji, Josko Gvardiol, Stones and Nathan Ake waiting in the wings, Guardiola is hoping his side can soon once again show the form that earned them a Treble.

However, a top-four finish would seem like a significant accomplishment at this time because Guardiola plans to incorporate all of the players he has already assembled.

Real Madrid’s participation in this unexpected knockout game was not as risky as City’s, but it had some interesting drama.

After three group defeats, they now face a team they normally expect to face in the latter stages.

Everyone’s ignorance of the fact that despite being top of La Liga, this team has never faced a major team at home or abroad this season will have failed to catch on with them, especially Manchester City’s.

It has been carnage offensively, with Antonio Rudiger missing for a long time, and Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao have suffered severe cruciate ligament injuries.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti is well aware that defensive issues are the tip of the iceberg.

Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham are the starting lineup for the game against City.

This year, they have 59 goals, but Ancelotti’s problems are that his superstars up front, Bellingham included, do not consistently put in the necessary defensive shift.

Real’s foolish boss knew that the season would be a long one unless they showed more commitment to the cause.

Real has trouble controlling games because they haven’t had the ability to replace the retired midfielder because of Toni Kroos’ absence.

Instead of spending money on Kroos, they have instead invested in Mbappe and other emerging, young talents.

Additionally, they have spent a lot of money on the reconstruction of their stadium, and the noise complaints from the neighbors have led the local licensing authorities to cancel concerts planned at the new venue.

In Real’s weekend game against Atletico, Vinicius Jr. appeared much more committed to the cause after being read the riot act by Luka Modric and Federico Valverde for not doing his best in the quarter-final Copa del Rey at Leganes.

Ancelotti is making an effort to deal with a player who frequently appears to be trying to take on the world both off and on the field.

We haven’t seen the best of him this season because he seems to be carrying a lot of weight.

The rumored massive offer from Saudi Arabia for him, some claiming to be worth 1 billion euros, is also roking in the background.

Real Madrid are leaving the door open while the conversation is still in progress and don’t actually say anything in favor or against the deal.

Although, with Rodrygo having scored 13 goals from Vinicius ‘ favoured left side, his departure would not be considered a fatal blow.

Mbappe, meanwhile, is the best he has been so far at the club.

Everyone who knows him as the main focal point for Madrid knows he has chosen to rely on his own intelligence, intuition, and self-worth.

Mbappe and Bellingham are now leading the leadership pecking order, which is getting much sharper. Modric and Valverde also have a say, replacing the likes of Carvajal and Militao, who were at the forefront.

Describing Real Madrid as exposed seems something of an understatement. But as Ancelotti says, they have been winning with quality, if not commitment, and that is in abundance.