Man City have never been more prepared to face Real Madrid

Real Madrid. Defeating them in the Champions League knock-out stages is a gargantuan task but to lift the famous trophy aloft that's what, often enough, you have to do sooner or later.

The mouth-watering semi-final tie certainly has the grandeur of a final. After a difficult start to 2023, Manchester City have once again found their unrelenting, immaculate form. Spearheaded by Erling Haaland, driven by Jack Grealish, beguiled by Kevin De Bruyne, held together by Rodri, ticked on by Ilkay Gundogan, protected by Ruben Dias. It may well be the best Pep Guardiola's Blues have ever looked.

A team that looks unstoppable, destined to finally claim their most desired prize, perhaps even clinch a historic treble to rival their neighbours', facing the spoilers, the wily veterans, the gatekeepers, the undisputed kings of the tournament. The old guard of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema as sublime as ever, complimented by the thrilling and exuberant new generation: Eduardo Camavinga, Rodrygo, Federico Valverde, Aurelian Tchouameni and a player surely now considered among the best on the planet: Vinicius Junior.

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Los Blancos might not be going well in La Liga, languishing 14 points behind leaders Barcelona, but in the Champions League it does not matter. You can never rule them out. Only Liverpool can rival the mysticism and romance that surrounds Madrid in European competition. They have the weight of history and tradition behind them. It's not just the skill and tactics, it's the unquantifiable concepts of fate, belief, and inevitability that drive them on like the wind. Unseeable, untouchable but undeniable.

That's what City are up against