City broke their Champions League duck by defeating Los Blancos in a one-sided semi-final match last year. According to McManaman, who has played for both clubs, City are the favorites to progress at Real’s expense again.

He emphasized that City would be the favorites even before the match, with a 3-3 score leaving them in a strong position. In previous encounters, City had scored goals against Real Madrid, and McManaman believed it would be difficult for Real Madrid again given the history and the teams’ current form.

McManaman also expressed his confidence in City’s capabilities, believing that they were capable of performing well in the league and advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals. He noted that the competition would become tougher as only the top teams remain.

He praised Pep and City for their consistent performance at this stage of the Champions League, indicating that it would be no surprise to see them competing for trophies. Finally, the text includes information about The Official England Sticker Collection Tournament Edition 2024, which is available for collection at panini.co.uk/englandstickers and retailers across the country.

There is also a mention of joining a new WhatsApp community to receive daily Mirror Football content and special offers. (Note: The specific promotional information about the England Sticker Collection and the WhatsApp community has been retained without any additional promotional messaging.)