Manchester City face one of the most daunting tasks in Champions League history tonight as they welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium needing to score four goals without reply to reach the quarter-finals.
Federico Valverde's extraordinary first-half hat-trick at the Bernabéu last week left City's Champions League hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads. The Uruguayan midfielder, who has now scored four goals in nine days following his brace against Elche at the weekend, is in the form of his career at exactly the wrong moment for Guardiola's side.
Pep Guardiola, still serving a touchline ban and watching from the stands, has spoken ahead of the tie with characteristic defiance. "We have a plan. We know what we need to do. Anything is possible in football," he said. But even Guardiola acknowledged that overturning a 3-0 deficit against a Real Madrid side of this quality will require a performance for the ages.
City's Premier League title hopes were also dented at the weekend, a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened West Ham leaving them nine points behind leaders Arsenal. The double disappointment has left the Etihad atmosphere fragile heading into what could be one of the club's final matches in European competition this season.
Kylian Mbappé, who missed the first leg through injury, may return for Real Madrid tonight — adding yet another dimension to an already lopsided tie. Madrid will be content to absorb pressure and counter with devastating efficiency, as they have done so many times before in these situations.
