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The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw has thrown up some enthralling fixtures as Europe's biggest clubs discovered their fate for the next stage of the competition.
Manchester City's clash against Real Madrid is arguably the most mouth-watering encounter from the draw as Pep Guardiola is set to renew hostilities with Los Blancos more than six years after he faced them as Bayern Munich boss in the 2013-14 edition of the Champions League semi-finals.
The first leg of the fixture is set to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on February 26 and the second leg is slated to be played at the Etihad Stadium on March 17.
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The Citizens' credentials in the Champions League will once again be under the scanner as they attempt to salvage their season with a much-awaited title in Europe.
The Manchester giants have never progressed beyond the quarter-finals of the elite competition under the tutelage of Guardiola, and the importance of the trophy is further compounded by the fact that they are currently trailing 14 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League.
Guardiola, who himself has gone several years without winning the coveted title, will be looking to deploy his best team to get the better of the 13-time European champions, and although it seems a difficult challenge, the former Barcelona tactician knows Los Blancos well enough to get over any hurdle.
In this article, we take a look at three reasons why Manchester City can defeat Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16 next year.
#3 Aymeric Laporte's potential return and the January transfer window
Aymeric Laporte has been sorely missed by Manchester City as his injury has impacted their title defence in the Premier League more than what was initially expected.
The Frenchman picked up a nasty knee injury during the Citizens' 4-0 win over Brighton back in August and since then, Guardiola has been forced to make up for his absence with a series of complex rotations within the squad.
One of those changes includes moving Fernandinho out of his central midfield position and using him as a cover for Laporte at the heart of the defence. It's safe to say the decision has not worked out in Guardiola's favour as the likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri have largely failed to neutralise the opposition's counter-attacks and stabilise the area.
In what would be a big boost for the reigning Premier League champions, Laporte is expected to return to the squad in time for the two-legged fixture against Real Madrid in February.
The defender's comeback would not only fix the frailties the Citizens have suffered at the back but it would also facilitate the restoration of what was previously a compact and highly dangerous unit.
There is also a general air of positivity surrounding the January transfer window when one considers the history of City's recruitment business. If the English titans go in the market for at least a left-back, fans would be a little more optimistic about their chances of doing better in the Champions League.
Also Read: Guardiola says Man City contract hopes will hinge on him delivering success
#2 Real Madrid have not been as lethal as they used to be in the Champions League
Real Madrid may have undergone a revival of sorts in LaLiga, with the club now level on points with leaders Barcelona, but they are yet to prove themselves as a rejuvenated unit in their historically favourite competition - the UEFA Champions League.
After winning their third European title under Zinedine Zidane, Los Blancos endured one of their toughest seasons in the Spanish top-flight and were knocked out of the Champions League by a young Ajax team in the quarter-finals.
The Madrid giants are still a shadow of their former selves as evidenced by their 3-0 humiliation at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the group stage this season. Moreover, their progress to the Round of 16 was only possible with victories over the likes of Club Brugge and Galatasaray, teams that aren't exactly the most difficult to overcome.
It would surely not be difficult for a determined Manchester City to exploit the Spanish outfit's obvious weaknesses when they go head-to-head next year, and with their Premier League title challenge possibly over, one can be sure that Pep Guardiola will bring all his might to the Champions League.
#1 Pep Guardiola's record against Real Madrid
Pep Guardiola is all too familiar with Real Madrid's tendencies and philosophies, having supported, captained, and coached their arch-rivals Barcelona in an immensely successful four-year stint at the Camp Nou.
The Catalan tactician has lost only four of his 17 meetings with Los Blancos as a manager, with nine wins and four draws under his belt. He also boasts of an impressive record at the Santiago Bernabeu, having registered five wins and a draw at the home of the Madridistas as Barca manager.
As Manchester City's re-entry into the Premier League title race is now considered potentially too late, the Spaniard will be desperate to bring home the only trophy that could eclipse their domestic collapse.
While he has never gone head-to-head with Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid before, Guardiola is bound to learn from the mistakes he made during the Citizens' consecutive quarter-final defeats to Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, juxtaposing that with his vast knowledge of Los Blancos to secure a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
