Pep Guardiola can equal Sir Alex Ferguson's Champions League record vs Real Madrid

Pep Guardiola can equal a UEFA Champions League record set by four other managers – including Sir Alex Ferguson – with progression against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

The Catalan could become only the fifth coach to appear in Europe’s most prestigious final on four occasions. He’d join Sir Alex Ferguson, Carlo Ancelotti, Marcello Lippi and Miguel Muñoz on that elite list – and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

Twelve months on from heartbreak in Porto in City’s Champions League final against Chelsea, Guardiola’s side stand on the brink of reaching the final hurdle for the second consecutive year.

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Having already navigated a group that consisted of Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig and Club Brugge, a last-16 tie with Sporting CP and a quarter-final clash with Atletico Madrid, only the 13-time competition winners Real Madrid now stand in their way.

They will take a slender one-goal advantage to the Santiago Bernabeu too. City’s sensational display in the first-leg last week may have deserved more, but Madrid showed that – when you’ve got Karim Benzema in your side – there’s always a chance.

City took a two-goal advantage on three occasions across the 90 minutes, but were pegged back to just one each time – with the 4-3 final score an accurate representation of a crazy night at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola will be confident his team can get the job done in the Spanish capital. Back in 2020, a Kevin De Bruyne-inspired City came from behind to beat Madrid 2-1 in the last-16 – a result that announced the Blues were ready to mix it with Europe’s elite.

Previously in his career, Guardiola reached his other two Champions League finals as Barcelona manager – winning both, each against