Manchester City face a defining night in their season as they welcome Real Madrid for the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.
Trailing 3-0 after a bruising first leg in Spain, Pep Guardiola has called for his players to produce the “perfect performance” to keep their European dreams alive.
The City boss is expected to welcome Erling Haaland back into the starting 11 after the striker was rested during the weekend draw at West Ham.
“It has to be a perfect game in many senses and so we try and try,” he said. “It’s about the players, getting into perfect positions. We played with four or five strikers in the first leg and didn’t score a goal.
“Sometimes you play with two false 9s and score five goals. The idea is there – we have to try it. Not too much different things needed. We can create many chances in minutes.
“The task is massive. To score more than three goals against Madrid is not easy but we are here, it is a football game, everything can happen and we have to create as much momentum as possible with our people and do a good game and defend well. If we are able to be clinical and defend well, we will always be in the game.”
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has arrived in Manchester with a full-strength squad, including Jude Bellingham, who has been cleared to play despite a minor ankle scare. Should City fail to progress, it would mark their earliest exit from the competition in seven years, putting even more pressure on their pursuit of Arsenal in the Premier League.