Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti both content after dazzling draw between Manchester City and Real Madrid

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hailed his side's character after the Champions League holders played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at Real Madrid.

Guardiola claimed the City of previous years could easily have crumbled under the weight of pressure as the Spanish giants twice hit back in a compelling quarter-final first leg at the Bernabeu.

City led after just two minutes through Bernardo Silva but Real hit back to go in front with a Ruben Dias own goal and Rodrygo effort.

Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol turned the game around again with stunning second-half efforts but Federico Valverde levelled to ensure next week’s return clash at the Etihad Stadium will begin evenly poised.

Guardiola said: "I think it was really good. Two teams that want to attack. The quality of the goals was fantastic.

"What I liked most is how we played in the second half. We were 2-1 down, playing here without much composure.

"They are so dangerous on transitions and could score more goals but we controlled the game really well.

"This game, in the first three seasons together, we’d have lost 4-1 or 5-1 as we were not stable emotionally.

"You need time to learn and now we are more stable and hopefully in the future we can do better and better.

"We went 2-3 but here it is never over. It’s Madrid, it’s special. We take the result and in one week in Manchester, with our people, it will be sold out and they will help us."

Match highlights:

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City were without chief playmaker Kevin De Bruyne after he was sick