Manchester City have met Real Madrid in their last three Champions League campaigns - progressing once and being knocked out twice in heartbreaking circumstances both times.
The Manchester City squad believe they would have won the Champions League this season had they beaten Real Madrid on penalties.
The shoot-out defeat ended City's treble hopes, but they are undefeated in their last 23 Champions League fixtures and won the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup last term. City and Real Madrid have faced each other in the last three seasons, with the Spanish side coming out on top twice - both in extra time. The current champions of England and Spain, and the last three winners of the Champions League, are forming something of an iconic European rivalry.
"It was a big disappointment last season, a big one, especially because I was one that missed the penalty. So it's never easy, but I think we deserved to go through in terms of two games. We were, in my opinion, the better team but in the end penalties are always a difficult situation. Real have responded to City's capture of Erling Haaland in 2022 by signing Jude Bellingham and then Kylian Mbappe and Endrick - so if City are drawn against them this season they will have to stop a new-look Bernabeu attack. Kovacic, though, insists City have the advantage of consistency in their playing squad and manager as they look to win back their European crown.
Mateo Kovacic UEFA Champions League
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