Some Manchester City fans took a not-so-subtle dig at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during Tuesday’s Champions League playoff game, displaying a banner showing City midfielder Rodri with the Ballon d’Or trophy beside the caption, “Stop crying your heart out.”

But Vinicius, who said he believed his activism against racism led to him not winning the prestigious award last year, used the mocking banner as fuel, helping Jude Bellingham score a late winner as Real clinched a 3-2 victory in the first leg of the tie.

“Yes, I saw it. At times the opposing fans do things which spur me on to put in a great performance. I did that again here tonight and we managed to win the game,” said player-of-the-match Vinicius.

Real had cancelled their plans to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in anticipation of Vinicius not winning the men’s award, with several teammates and former Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo saying the Brazil international deserved to win.

Vinicius went on to win the FIFA player of the year 2024 award in December.

“We have to get back to Madrid and our fans will make it special,” Vinicius said after Tuesday’s win.

“The return leg will be tough but we have to keep this up and defend like we did tonight to ensure another magical night in front of our fans.”

Defending champions Real host City in the second leg game next Wednesday.

-Reuters

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Real Madrid Manager Carlo Ancelotti said Manchester City was the worst possible rival Real Madrid could have been drawn against in the Champions League playoff and described the preparation process for the showdown as a nightmare.

As he braces for another high-stakes contest at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, when the winners of the last three titles face-off for the fourth consecutive season in the knockout phase, Ancelotti thinks Real vs City has become Europe’s biggest continental rivalry.

“It feels like a modern classic because we’ve been playing against each other in this competition for many years,” Ancelotti told a press conference on Monday.

“I think it’s going to be as entertaining and evenly matched as ever. So much depends on attitude, individual quality, confidence and personality. It’s such a high-level that you have to bring out the best in every aspect of the game, not just one.

“Whoever goes through will have a good chance of going far in the competition, as has been the case in recent years.”

Ancelotti talks from experience as his side won the title in 2022 and last year after eliminating City, who reached the final in 2021 before finally claiming their first European crown in 2023.

Ancelotti dismissed the idea that his side would be facing a weakened opponent compared to the previous years, with City languishing fifth in the Premier League, 15 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, calling Pep Guardiola the best coach in the world.

Real and City failed to advance automatically to the last 16 as one of the top eight sides in the new Champions League format and will clash in a two-legged playoff in which one of the tournament’s top contenders will be eliminated early.

“The reality is that’s always a headache (playing against Manchester City),” Ancelotti said.

“Guardiola is a coach who has brought a lot to football, an innovator and I have a lot of respect for him. He’s one of the best, if not the best. Every time we play against each other, it’s a nightmare to prepare for the games, because he always has ideas that make you think.

“City are still one of the best teams in Europe, they have the best coach and they are the toughest rival we could have been playing against.”

-Reuters

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Pep Guardiola has challenged his Manchester City side to prove they are still “something special” in their blockbuster Champions League tie against Real Madrid despite a turbulent season for the Premier League champions.

The two clubs meet in Europe’s elite competition for a fourth consecutive season but this time much earlier in the tournament as both under-performed in the new league phase.

City sneaked into the next round in 22nd place in the 36-team table by winning their final game against Club Brugge, while defending champions Real finished 11th.

Guardiola admitted at yesterday’s pre-match press conference that his team, European champions in 2023, were “not even close” to finishing in the top eight, which would have earned them automatic qualification for the last 16.

Real Madrid, European champions a record 15 times, secured a seeding for the knockout play-offs. This means they host the second leg of the tie, which the City boss admitted was an advantage.

“When you finish 22nd (out of 24) you cannot ask any favour, you cannot ask anything that you didn’t win,” Guardiola said ahead of Tuesday’s first leg at the Etihad.

“Always I believe what happens in football, normally you have to deserve it and we didn’t deserve it.”

The Catalan said he still had faith in his team after a decade of success despite their struggles this season, during which he has had to cope with injuries and a loss of form.

City have won six out of the past seven Premier League titles, including the last four in a row, but they are currently in fifth spot and realistically out of the title race.

“I will not deny how I trust the players that gave us the incredible decade, all of us, winning a lot of things and playing at high standards and I know what we are capable of,” he said.

“The team has something special and hopefully tomorrow we can prove it.”

And defender Ruben Dias said he believes City can still achieve something “beautiful” this season.

“Since I have been here this is maybe the most difficult season so far, but I am a firm believer that in the most difficult scenario you can still achieve something beautiful,” the Portugal international said.

“We know it will be difficult to get there but we have to believe in what we have in the dressing room. With the right belief, we are able to do anything.”

The second leg of the playoff tie takes place at Real’s Bernabeu stadium on 19 February.

TUESDAY FIXTURES

• Man City Vs Madrid
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