Real Madrid vs. Manchester City LIVE Updates: Minute-by-Minute Coverage of the 2025-26 Champions League Round of 16 First Leg

Referee Maurizio Mariani blows his whistle, and the game between Real Madrid and Manchester City is underway.

The clashes between Real Madrid and Manchester City have consistently delivered drama, whether through last-gasp comebacks or crushing defeats. But beneath all the spectacle, there is one thread that has run through every single one of their meetings.

Across the last five series between the two clubs, three won by Real Madrid and two by Manchester City, the team that scored the first goal of the tie has gone on to be eliminated every single time.

Maurizio Mariani will officiate Wednesday’s Champions League clash. The 44-year-old Italian referee has previously overseen two Real Madrid matches (one win and one loss) and only one Manchester City game, a 5-0 win last season against Slavia Prague.

Match officiating team:

Referee: Maurizio Mariani
First assistant: Daniele Bindoni
Second assistant: Alberto Tegoni
Fourth official: Matteo Marchetti
VAR: Marco Di Bello
AVAR: Daniele Chiffi

Manchester City have established themselves as one of the most dominant forces in European soccer, consistently reaching the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League under Pep Guardiola. And despite never sharing a domestic league, the Sky Blues and Real Madrid have developed into one of the competition's most compelling recurring rivalries.

The two sides have met in six of the last seven Champions League editions, with Los Blancos coming out on top in four of those series, compared to two for the English side.

One of the main reasons coach Arbeloa has opted for a five-midfielder setup is the lack of options up front, with Gonzalo García standing as the only forward with meaningful experience in the squad.

Beyond Mbappé, the most notable absentees for Real Madrid through injury are Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Dani Ceballos, David Alaba, Éder Militão and Álvaro Carreras.

Pep Guardiola goes all-out with a lineup full of stars (4-2-3-1): Gianluigi Donnarumma, Abdukodir Khusanov, Ruben Dias, Marc Guéhi, Nico O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Savinho, Antoine Semenyo, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland.

Amid an injury crisis, coach Alvaro Arbeloa has made a change in the starting lineup, starting with five midfielders (4-5-1): Thibaut Courtois; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, Dean Huijsen, Ferland Mendy; Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Brahim Diaz, Thiago Pitarch, Arda Güler;  Vinicius Junior.

In a match full of star power, Kylian Mbappé stands out as the most notable absentee, having been left out of the squad entirely. The Frenchman has yet to recover from his knee injury, and both the player and the club have decided against rushing his return and risking a further setback. As part of his ongoing recovery process, Mbappé has traveled to Paris to continue his treatment.

Ahead of the Manchester City match, interim head coach Álvaro Arbeloa offered an update on the striker's condition:  “He is much better. It is something to take day by day. This whole week has been very positive, he has returned with great sensations and every day he is better. We are expecting him back very soon.”

Real Madrid and Manchester City will be clashing at 4:00 PM (ET).

You can watch the Champions League match live on Paramount+ and DAZN.

Welcome to our live blog for the match between Real Madrid and Manchester City for the first leg of the 2025-26 Champions League Round of 16. Stay tuned for major developments and live minute-by-minute action!