City vs Real Madrid: Match Preview

Special night if City 'do' one & Ron

By Dave Walker

Manchester City will be hoping Jose Mourinho’s pre-match prediction comes true and Ronaldo chalks up a hat-trick with a difference in City’s do-or-die Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Ronaldo returns to Manchester tomorrow night
Photo: Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe

Even the most rabid, sky blue tinted spectacle wearing City fanatic would be hard pressed to believe their beloved team can wriggle Houdini-like out of their Champions League straight jacket and concrete boots.

With a paltry two points garnered from away trips to Madrid and Amsterdam and home ties with the Dutch champions and Borussia Dortmund, it will take one of the biggest and most unlikely turnarounds in European history for City to grace the knockout stages.

It doesn't however, stop Roberto Mancini’s men going out in a blaze of glory and inflicting serious damage on Madrid’s aspirations for a record 10^th Euro crown.

Reflection: Five star City claim top spot

Aguero fires back at City critics
Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe

City 5 - 0 Aston Villa

By Archie Barnett

Manchester City, a club in crisis. After only 11 games gone, City were second in the league, yet labelled a club in crisis.

Of course, there seems to be a Champions League exit on the horizon, barring a miracle, but does that really warrant the media reaction we have been receiving?

However, after a prosperous weekend for the Blues, where both Manchester United and Chelsea lost against Norwich and West Brom respectively, those same critics seem to have been very quiet as City claimed top spot off our neighbours for the first time since lifting the trophy in May.

So, where have those critics gone? There were many that were justified in saying we were not at our best, but a brilliant 5-0 victory over Aston Villa seemed to have stopped the ridiculous "club in crisis" and "Mancini out" claims as City look to hit top form.

City vs Borussia Dortmund: Match Preview

Mancini needs win on home front

By Dave Walker

Defeatists might suggest that Manchester City’s encounter with Borussia Dortmund will, at best, help decide who finishes as runners-up in the Champion’s League ‘Group of Death’.

The clever money is on Real Madrid to emerge as Group winners and Dutch champions Ajax finishing bottom, leaving City in a straight dogfight with the Bundesliga & German Cup double winners.

Match Report: City 2 - 3 Real Madrid

Late comeback denies famous City victory

By Aaron Leggott

In 1998, Manchester City were the laughing stock of English football. A combination of poor management, terrible ownership and a less than average playing staff meant this historic club were rotting in the depths of the third tier. 

From Bootham Crescent to the Bernabeau: It's been a big transformation
Photo: PacificCoastNews.com

There seemed to be no way out, and the club were going backwards. And to think that 14 years later, City fans were planning a trip to the Santiago Bernabeau to play the world's most historically decorated football team is a fairy tale story.

And despite a 3-2 loss last night in our opening Champions League game against the Spanish champions, we can hold our heads up high and be proud to have played so well on such a big stage.

Goals from Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov saw the Blues take the lead twice against Madrid, only to be pegged back each time, and lose all three points with minutes to play.

City vs Real Madrid: Match Preview

From Macclesfield to Madrid...

By Dave Walker

When Manchester City step out to face Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium tomorrow night it will arguably be the high point of the club’s 118 year history.

The clash of the champions of Europe’s two most prestigious leagues – La Liga and the Premier League - comes almost 14 years to the day since City were at their lowest ebb, languishing in the third tier of English football.