Another UEFA Champions League clash means another chance to reckon with the on-field excellence and financial firepower of two of Europe’s most-feared clubs.
Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City and reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid have met in the UEFA Champions League — the richest, most prestigious competition in global club sports — eight times. Their records? Three wins each, plus two draws.
No, unless they tied literally every time, it quite literally doesn’t get closer than that. So, with both juggernaut soccer clubs running it back once again in the 2022-23 Champions League semifinals starting May 8, it’s only fair that we take a closer look at what actually sets them apart as it relates to key areas like club structure, global business impact, transfer spending, player salary spending, and the all-important trophy case
The Match
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland has enjoyed a remarkable and record-breaking debut season at Manchester City, firing the club to the brink of the treble.
The Norwegian striker, signed last summer from Borussia Dortmund, set a new record for most goals scored in a Premier League season (35) as City lead the standings with just a few games remaining, while he tops the Champions League scoring list with 12 as City prepare to face Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
And it’s in Europe’s premium club competition where City hope Haaland’s brilliance in front of goal can make the ultimate difference as the club continues to pursue their first European Cup.
City met Real Madrid at the same stage last season but fell just short, 6-5 on aggregate after extra time, despite dominating much of the tie. Their lack of a recognised centre-forward proved their undoing on that occasion but City can now call on the best goalscorer in world football.
Haaland admitted himself last month that City had signed him to help the club win the Champions League, and the 22-year-old striker appeared happy to shoulder the responsibility.
“Of course the club want to win the Champions League, they want to still win trophies,” he said. “They won the Premier League four times out of the last five years so they didn’t bring me in to win the Premier League – they know how to win the Premier League. So you can read between the lines. But I’m here to try to help the club develop even more, to try to win the Champions League for the first time.”
Ahead of the first leg in Madrid on Tuesday night, Haaland and his teammates geared up for the match with a final training session inside the Bernabeu stadium. Haaland was joined by the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish – two teammates also in exceptional form who will hope to guide City into the final.
Check out the photos from the training session in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device
