Real Madrid are through to the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with two games to spare. For a long time, it had looked like they were set to be handed a defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk, only for Antonio Rudiger to score a heroic goal deep into injury time to salvage a draw and a point for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
Real Madrid are of course the defending champions and will be looking to retain the cup with the big ears for the second time. They are the only club in history to achieve the feat in the Champions League era, when Zinedine Zidane’s side remarkably won the tournament three seasons in a row.
Based on early season form, they have been joined by Manchester City as the favourites to win the Champions League this season. In Erling Haaland, the Premier League side have a player who seems unstoppable at the moment.
Pep Guardiola’s side have been one of the favourites to win the competition for the past half-a-decade though and yet, they have never managed to. As reported by Marca, when asked by a Viaplay journalist to explain the reasons behind why his team have failed to win the Champions League, the Manchester City manager said:
"“Because Real Madrid are always there.”"
Guardiola makes Real Madrid claim amid Champions League struggles
The fact of the matter is that the Champions League is a very unique competition. While a lot of luck is involved in it, in many ways, it is also much more difficult to win than a league.
Like any other knockout competition, just one bad day at the office and you are out, no matter how good you have been leading up to that.
Guardiola surely would not have forgotten how close his Manchester City side came to reaching the final last season before Real Madrid completely flipped the script on them in the dying stages of the semi-finals.