Watch the Manchester City and Real Madrid match in the Champions League

The second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final match between Real Madrid and Manchester City will be officiated by Italian referee Daniele Orsato. The match is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Wednesday, at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, with kickoff at 7:00 PM UK time. Football fans are eagerly anticipating this clash, as both teams vie for victory to advance to the prestigious tournament's semi-finals.

Italian referee Daniele Orsato, 48 years old, began his refereeing career in 1993. He made his Serie A debut in a match between Atalanta and Siena on December 17, 2006.

During the current 2023-2024 season, Orsato has officiated 24 matches across various competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Euro Qualifiers, UEFA Champions League qualifiers, Serie A, Saudi Professional League, Coppa Italia, and the UAE Pro League. He has issued 120 yellow cards during these matches. Orsato's extensive experience and his handling of matches across different tournaments reflect his skills and stability as a referee, affirming his ability to efficiently and fairly manage games.

The significance of this match lies in the meeting of former champions, with both Real Madrid and Manchester City representing formidable forces in European football. Their previous encounter in the UEFA Champions League semi-final in the 2021-2022 season, officiated by Orsato, was a notable fixture in the tournament's history. The match, held at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Real Madrid's traditional stronghold, witnessed an intense battle that ended with Manchester City securing a 1-0 victory, advancing them to the final. This memorable match underscored Orsato's role in his career.

Former English football star Steve McManaman discussed the highly anticipated match between Manchester City and Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg. He suggested that Pep Guardiola's team is the "stronger contender" to qualify.

McManaman expressed his confidence in Manchester City following the 3-3 draw in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu, emphasizing their offensive prowess under coach Pep Guardiola. This optimism reflects McManaman's belief in Manchester City's ability to achieve positive results in the upcoming match, making them the favorites to qualify for the next round of the tournament.

In his statements to the Mirror, Steve McManaman added: "Now is when the Champions League really starts, with only the best teams remaining. I've said before that I think Real Madrid need to score two goals at the Etihad to qualify."

This statement reflects McManaman's analysis before the crucial match, indicating that Real Madrid needs to achieve a positive result at Manchester City's ground to qualify for the next stage. It also suggests that he expects an exciting and intense match between the two teams, with the outcome potentially decisive in the end.

McManaman further stated: "City is the stronger contender, they are the reigning Champions League holders and have shown good form, returning to the top of the Premier League. However, Real Madrid may be stronger next season, especially after signing Judd Bellingham. Nevertheless, when you look at the teams overall, Manchester City appears stronger compared to Real Madrid."

McManaman points to Manchester City's strong record in European matches at home, where the team hasn't lost at the Etihad Stadium since 2018. These records make them the favorites against Real Madrid, who have conceded 8 goals in two matches at the Etihad in recent years.

McManaman concluded his statement by saying: "Two years ago, they scored 4 goals against Real Madrid (4-3), and last year as well (4-0). I think it will be tough for Real Madrid again, looking at the history of matches between the teams and what has happened in the past." His emphasis on Manchester City's outstanding performances in previous matches against Real Madrid reflects his expectation that the English team will pose a significant challenge once again. His analysis of the teams' match history indicates that Manchester City may have the upper hand in this encounter.

Currently, City leads the English Premier League table, with a two-point lead over their closest rivals Arsenal and Liverpool. This situation reflects the team's excellent performance throughout the season, positioning them well to compete for the league title.

With only 6 rounds remaining until the end of the season, every point is expected to be crucial, and each match will have a significant impact on the championship race.

The history of Real Madrid and Manchester City encounters:

The giants have faced each other in 10 previous matches in the UEFA Champions League, with Manchester City winning 4 matches, while Real Madrid has won 3 matches.

The English team has scored 17 goals in these encounters, while the Royal team has scored 14 goals. Karim Benzema is the all-time top scorer in these matches with 6 goals.

In their last six encounters in the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid has only won one match, indicating the closeness in strength between the two teams and the difficulty of the matches they face in this prestigious tournament.