Pep Guardiola has suggested that Manchester City versus Real Madrid has become the greatest Champions League rivalry over the last decade.
The two European giants will renew acquaintances in the Champions League for a fourth straight season when they lock horns in the playoffs over two legs, starting with Tuesday's first-leg showdown at the Etihad Stadium.
This fixture will become just the fourth in European Cup/Champions League history to be played in four consecutive campaigns after Deportivo de La Coruna vs. Juventus (four between 2000-01 and 2003-04), Chelsea vs. Liverpool (five between 2004-05 and 2008-09) and Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid (four between 2013-14 and 2016-17).
Man City have won four, drawn five and lost three of their 12 encounters across 90 minutes with Carlo Ancelotti's side in the Champions League, most recently losing on penalties in last season's quarter-finals following an enthralling 4-4 aggregate draw over two legs.
To the surprise of many, both teams failed to qualify automatically for the last 16 this term, with holders Real Madrid settling for an 11th-placed finish in the 36-team table, while Man City required a win on matchday eight to finish 22nd and avoid a shock elimination.
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Is Man City vs. Real Madrid the greatest modern-day Champions League rivalry?
Soon after the playoff draw was made, Guardiola described Man City's growing rivalry with Real Madrid as being "like a derby" on the European stage.
Ahead of Tuesday's mouth-watering contest, the former Barcelona boss was asked at a press conference whether battles between City and Real can now be viewed as one of the great Champions League rivalries in the modern era.
"In terms of the last decade yeah, maybe, because it's not normal to play the same rival all the time", Guardiola told reporters.
"In terms of history, Champions League, at the end we cannot compare to be honest against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona or AC Milan. This kind of group.
"In the last decade we have been around. In the last years, the draw, we play against them."
Some will argue that Liverpool versus Real Madrid is in fact the greatest modern-day Champions League rivalry; the two teams have played against each other seven times since 2018, including two finals and one quarter-final.
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Guardiola: 'Let's prove we have something special'
While Real Madrid boast a record 16 European Cup/Champions League titles in their history, Man City have only won Europe's top prize once in 2023.
Nevertheless, Man City have shown in recent years that they are more than capable of getting the better of Los Blancos on their day, and Guardiola is hopeful that his players can "prove" why they have "something special".
"The group stage, the knockout stage is always difficult, we have not done quite well in the group stage so we deserve to be where we are. The draw is the draw and [we] accept the challenge," said Guardiola.
"We are where we are, and I know perfectly but the team has something special and hopefully tomorrow we can prove it.
"I will not deny how I trust with the players who gave us that incredible decade, winning a lot of things and playing a high standard, I know what we are capable of.
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Guardiola admits City 'did not deserve' to automatically qualify for last 16
"To be honest, it is always better to have a second leg at home in case you have extra time with your people.
"We play the second game away because we were not good in the group stage - when you finish 22nd you cannot ask for any favours.
"In football you have to deserve it - we do not deserve it. We were not even close. That's why when the draw was either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid, I thought that is what we deserve.
"Of course [going through] it would be important. We would be in the next round, but we have not been stable this season. We achieved trebles and quadruples and we see how difficult it is. It is because we were a machine. Doesn't matter what happened, we were there.
"We have many cases in the nine years I have been here where we suffer, but always we came back."
Meanwhile, Guardiola has delivered an update on the fitness of his squad, including new signing Nico Gonzalez, who was forced off early into his debut against Leyton Orient last weekend.
Oliver Thomas
