The Matchday 6 fixture of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League group stage between Real Madrid (Spain) and Manchester City (England) will take place on December 10 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Real Madrid – Manchester City: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Real Madrid
Despite a tense atmosphere and plenty of rumours surrounding the club, Real remain among the group leaders in the Champions League. Two weeks ago the Spaniards scraped a hard-fought 4-3 win over Olympiacos. The side conceded more goals in that single match than across their previous four European fixtures combined (2), but the main takeaway was the fourth win in the opening five rounds. The only slip-up came away to Liverpool (0-1). Notably, the Madrid outfit have won 13 of their last 14 home games in the group or main stage of the Champions League. Their home scoring run in this competition stretches to 38 matches. Real sit fifth in the group table, level on points with three teams above them separated only by tiebreakers. Some media outlets suggest this match could prove decisive for head coach Xabi Alonso.
- Madrid have scored in 5 of their last 6 Champions League matches.
- The club's uncompromising streak in this competition spans 21 matches (14 wins, 7 defeats).
- Real have conceded in 12 of their last 13 home games in the Champions League.
Predicted Real Madrid line-up (4-4-2)
Thibaut Courtois – Raul Asensio, Antonio Rüdiger, Alvaro Carreras, Fran García – Federico Valverde, Arda Güler, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jude Bellingham – Vinícius Júnior, Rodrigo.
Midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and defenders Din Heisen, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy, Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão will miss the game through injury.
Manchester City
The English side went through the first half of the group stage unbeaten, collecting 10 points from a possible 12 across four rounds. However, in the most recent fixture Manchester City unexpectedly lost to Bayer at the Etihad (0-2), failing to score after an eight-game Champions League scoring streak. This season the club had consistently managed at least two goals per match in Europe. The dropped points saw City slip to ninth in the table, falling out of the automatic top-two spots, though they remain just two points off second place. It is worth noting that Manchester City have beaten Spanish opposition in 6 of their last 7 group/main stage Champions League matches.
- The English side have conceded in 10 of their last 12 Champions League matches.
- At least 2 goals have been scored in 14 consecutive Champions League games involving the club.
- Manchester City remain unbeaten in 14 of their last 18 away Champions League matches (7 wins, 7 draws).
Predicted Manchester City line-up (4-3-3)
Gianluigi Donnarumma – Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol, Nico O’Riley – Nico González, Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders – Phil Foden, Savinho, Erling Haaland.
Defender John Stones and midfielders Mateo Kovačić and Rodri (Rodrigo Hernández) are unavailable due to injury.
Referee
Clément Turpin (France)
Matches – 7 (International fixtures, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 27;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.9;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 23;
Penalties – 71%.
Match prediction: Real Madrid – Manchester City
Real vs Manchester City has become a Champions League classic, with the teams meeting each season and regularly producing high-quality contests. In 9 of the last 10 head-to-heads in this competition both sides have scored, and in 8 of those 10 fixtures at least three goals were registered. At the Bernabéu both teams have found the net in five consecutive Champions League meetings, four of which finished over the goal line.
Looking at the teams individually, Real have exceeded the three-goal mark in 11 of their last 14 Champions League matches. The same threshold was surpassed in 12 of their last 14 home games in the competition, and only twice in those 14 did at least one side fail to score. Manchester City have produced entertaining away performances in Europe too: at least three goals were scored in 10 of their last 12 Champions League away matches, and both teams scored in 12 of their last 15 away fixtures in the competition.
My prediction: Both teams to score – Yes + Total over 2.5