Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Which is the better football team at the moment and why?

Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Which is the better football team at the moment and why?

Lenah Ann
updated at May 9, 2023 at 8:08 AM
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Manchester City vs. Real Madrid is one of the most viewed matches on the planet. Both teams are European giants, and whenever they clash, history is made, and some of the best players rise to stardom. The two clubs have met mostly during the UEFA Champions League matches to determine the true European giant on several occasions.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid head to head
Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Which is the better football team at the moment and why? Photo: Visionhaus , Cesar Ortiz (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Man City, with their current form, are formidable and thus stand a chance against their rivals, who have some of the best goal-scoring strikers in the world. Historically, the two clubs have managed to outshine one another during their home matches.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid head to head

Since the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League season, the two clubs have met head-to-head on several occasions and have always proven to be some of the best teams in the soccer arena. 

In the UCL head-to-head statistics between the two giant clubs, Man City and Real Madrid have three wins and two draws. However, the Spanish side has more goals than the English side, 13-12, and has won the UCL 14 times, and on the other hand, Man City are yet to win it.

The all-time top scorers from the two clubs are the Whites' Cristiano Ronaldo with 105 goals and the Sky Blues' Sergio Aguero with 39 goals. They have an upcoming semi-final first-leg UCL match on 9 May 2023.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid trophies and achievements

In the last nine competitions between the two giants, the Whites have won 3 times, while the Sky Blues have won 4 times and drew two times. Manchester City are yet to win the most lucrative and coveted trophy in Europe, while their opponents have won the title 14 times.

In the Premier League, the English side has won the title 8 times and is the current defending champion, while in La Liga, the Spanish side has won the title 35 times since its inception.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid trophies and achievements
Erling Haaland of Man city looks on during the Premier League match against West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on 3 May 2023 in Manchester, England. Photo: Alex Livesey
Source: Getty Images

Manchester City vs Real Madrid squad

Over the years, both clubs have had some of the best players in their squads. They have also produced some of the best in the world who went on to win titles for their respective teams. Here is a list of the two clubs' current squads.

Manchester City

Goalkeeper(s)

  • Ederson

Defenders

  • Ruben Dias
  • Nathan Ake
  • John Stones
  • Aymeric Laporte
  • Manuel Akanji
  • Kyle Walker

Midfielders

  • Rodri
  • Ilkay Gündogan
  • Kevin De Bruyne
  • Bernardo Silva

Wingers

  • Phil Foden
  • Jack Grealish
  • Riyad Mahrez

Forwards

  • Erling Haaland
  • Julián Álvarez

Real Madrid

Goalkeeper(s)

  • Thibaut Courtois

Centre-backs

  • Éder Militão
  • David Alaba
  • Antonio Rüdiger
  • Nacho Fernández

Right-backs

  • Daniel Carvajal
  • Lucas Vázquez

Midfielders

  • Aurélien Tchouaméni
  • Federico Valverde
  • Eduardo Camavinga
  • Toni Kroos
  • Luka Modric

Wingers

  • Vinicius Junior
  • Eden Hazard
  • Rodrygo
  • Marco Asensio

Forward(s)

  • Karim Benzema

Manchester City vs Real Madrid owners

Sheikh Mansour owns Man City. He bought the club from Thai businessman Thaksin Shinawatra and is the current sole owner after acquiring the final 10% shares. On the other hand, the Whites are not owned by any individual and are run as an association by which the board members make all decisions.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid squad
Madrid CF squad during the La Liga match against Real Sociedad at Reale Arena Stadium on 2 May 2023 in San Sebastian, Spain. Photo: Cesar Ortiz
Source: Getty Images

Manchester City vs Real Madrid strikers

The two teams have some of the best strikers in the world, known for their goal-scoring abilities and assists. In the 2022/23 season, the Sky Blues strikers are Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez, Erling Haaland, and Julián Álvarez.

The Whites have Vinicius Junior, Eden Hazard, Rodrygo, Marco Asensio, and Karim Benzema as their 2022/23 season strikers.

In all competitions in the 2022/23 season, Haaland is the top scorer for the English side with 50 goals, while Karim Benzema is the leading scorer for the Spanish side with 29 goals.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid stadium

The Sky Blues play their home matches in their stadium known as the City of Manchester Stadium, which has a capacity of 53,400. Initially, the stadium, which is located in Manchester, England, was known as the Etihad Stadium.

That said, the Whites play their home matches in their home stadium known as the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, located in Chamartín, Madrid, Spain, and has a capacity of 81,044.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid Champions League

In the UCL, the two legendary clubs have won 3 times and drawn two times each. However, the Spanish side has more goals than the English side, 13-12, and has won the UCL 14 times. On the other hand, their rival is yet to take home the title.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid coach

Pep Guardiola is the current Manchester City coach. He has been with the club since the 2016/17 season after taking over the mantle from Manuel Pellegrini.

Real Madrid's current coach is Carlo Ancelotti. He has been with the club from 2013 to 2015; he returned from 2021 to date after taking over from Jose Mourinho and Zinedine Zidane, respectively.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid legends

Like most successful football clubs with legends who are remembered for their efforts and hard work, the two giant clubs are no different. Here is a list of legends who helped the clubs move to another level.

Manchester City

5. Kevin De Bruyne

The Belgian is known for immensely contributing to making his club in its best form. Currently, he is one of the world's top attacking midfielders.

4. Francis Lee

In the late 60s and early 70s, Francis was vital to the club's reign. They went unbeaten in 11 matches during his campaign, and he was the team's second top scorer in the 1967/68 season.

3. Neil Young

The legendary Neil Young took the team to glory with his wide range of abilities that saw him pass the defenders easily and score unbelievable goals.

2. Vincent Kompany

Kompany was a legend and the team's captain who made the dream a reality. He led the squad to win their first PL title as a captain after 44 dry years.

1. Sergio Aguero

At the top of City's all-time legends sits Sergio Aguero. He is the most decorated player in the team's history and the all-time top scorer with 180 goals.

Real Madrid

5. Raul

The famous Spanish-based legend Raul is renowned for scoring 323 goals in 750 games for the Whites. Additionally, he played a crucial role in winning six La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies.

4. Ferenc Puskas

Ferenc is a legend who went down in history as one of the best players in the world during his time. He helped his team win three European Cups and five La Liga titles after joining forces with players such as Kopa and Paco Gento.

3. Sergio Ramos

As a captain, Sergio Ramos was ranked as one of the best defenders in the world. Additionally, in about 650 games, he scored over 100 goals, thus becoming the second centre-back in history to do so.

2. Alfredo Di Stefano

Stefano made a name for himself, and he is remembered as the most faithful member of his squad. He is one of the greatest players in history ever to put on the Whites' kit. That said, he is also a two-time Ballon d'Or winner.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, is the world's greatest of all time. He holds the record as the all-time top scorer for the Whites with 450 goals in nine seasons and is a five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

How many times did Man City beat Real Madrid?

Manchester City vs Real Madrid coach
Pep Guardiola, the manager of City, is interviewed by Sky Sports prior to the Premier League match against West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on 3 May 2023 in Manchester, England. Photo: Alex Livesey
Source: Getty Images

The two clubs have played ten times, and in those meetings, both teams have won 4 times at home and drawn two times.

Which team is better, Real Madrid or Manchester City?

The Sky Blues have a better form with a performance index of 100. Regarding goals, the Whites have 61, while the Sky Blues have 71.

Has Man City won the Champions League?

The Sky Blues are yet to take home the most lucrative title in Europe.

What are the chances of Real Madrid beating Man City?

According to statistics, both teams have a high winning chance in their respective home matches.

Which club defeated Real Madrid the most?

Espanyol made history when it became the first team to defeat the Whites by an 8-1 margin in 1930.

Which team has beaten Man City the most?

In several competitions, Arsenal holds the record for defeating the Sky Blues 87 times - the biggest loss against any team.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid champions league
Carlo Ancelotti, manager of Madrid looks on prior to the LaLiga Santander match against UD Almeria at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on 29 April 2023 in Madrid, Spain. Photo: Jose Manuel Alvarez
Source: Getty Images

Who has more fans, Manchester City or Real Madrid?

The Whites have a huge fan base worldwide compared to the Sky Blues. On Instagram, the former has over 137 million followers, while the latter has over 42 million followers.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid has been rivals for years. Their upcoming match is highly anticipated, and fans worldwide have set their hopes high, expecting a win from their respective team. Both clubs have produced some of the best players in the world, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Aguero.

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Authors
Lenah Ann photo
Lenah Ann
Lenah Ann is a Kenyan-based content creator with 2 years of experience. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media and Communication from Dedan Kimathi, Kenya in 2021.