Jude Bellingham will pose Manchester City a question Pep Guardiola wishes he could ask

Manchester City know exactly what they must do to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, Pep Guardiola says.

After semi-final meetings in the last two seasons, City meet Real at the last eight stage this season after Friday's draw. Real were victorious in 2022, producing a stunning comeback in injury time at the end of the second leg at the Bernabeu, but City showed progress by drawing in Madrid in the first leg last term and blowing their visitors away at the Etihad.

Guardiola insists that victory will hold no bearing on this season's clashes but the form of Jude Bellingham will. The City chief praised the England man for transforming Real into a completely different prospect.

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City were keen on bringing Bellingham to the Etihad, although such a move never looked close with the England man destined for Real Madrid when deciding to leave Borussia Dortmund last summer. Nonetheless Guardiola, like any manager in world football, would love to be causing problems with Bellingham in his side rather than trying to find solutions as an opponent.

"The impact has been massive," said the City chief of Bellingham. "It’s a different team from last season. His influence is obvious, and we have to try to discover what he does to control it."

Guardiola added: “Facing Real Madrid is always a tough challenge, nobody can deny it. They are an exceptional club, and in this competition can control many things with the experience they have in the past.

“As happened last season there will be moments for them and moments for us.