Pep Guardiola has urged City to rise to the challenge and again show the side has ‘something special’ when we meet Real Madrid in Tuesday’s Champions League first leg play-off at the Etihad.

The clash brings together two of Europe’s finest sides and winners of the Champions League over the past three seasons.

However, an inconsistent run for both teams over the League Phase of this year’s tournament means they were drawn to face each other for the right to go through to the last 16.

But addressing the media at Monday’s pre-match press conference, the boss voiced his faith and belief in the players who have helped bring so much success to the Etihad over the past few seasons.

“We are where we are, and I know perfectly but the team has something special and hopefully tomorrow we can prove it,” Guardiola declared.

“I will not deny how I trust with the players who gave us that incredible decade, winning a lot of things and playing a high standard, I know what we are capable of.

“To be honest it is always better to have a second leg at home in case you have extra time with your people.

“We play the second game away because we were not good in the group stage - when you finish 22nd you cannot ask for any favours.

“In football you have to deserve it - we do not deserve it. We were not even close. That’s why when the draw was either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid, I thought that is what we deserve.

“Of course [going through] it would be important. We would be in the next round.

“But we have not been stable this season. We achieved Trebles and quadruples and we see how difficult it is. It is because we were a machine. Doesn’t matter what happened, we were there.

“We have many cases in the nine years I have been here where we suffer but always, we came back.

“It would be good for the club to be in this competition - I like to feel we are there but now, I know the gameplan tomorrow.

“I still have doubts about the selection - we still have injuries., I am always optimistic and calm.

“We will see what happens.”

Somewhat remarkably it’s the fourth time in four seasons that City and the 15-times European champions have locked horns in the Champions League.

Real edged a dramatic semi-final win 6-5 on aggregate in May 2022 and also overcame Guardiola’s side 4-3 on penalties last season at the quarter-final stage after the sides had fought out a dramatic 4-4 draw over the two legs.

In-between, however, City recorded a famous 5-1 semi-final aggregate win in 2023 en-route to a historic Treble.

And further looking ahead, the boss acknowledged what has developed into a special rivalry between the two sides.

“Undoubtedly so. I would say in the last years yes.

“We won four, draw five lost three, so in recent times maybe, but in terms of history of Champions League history we cannot compare to Madrid, Milan, Bayern Munich.

“In the last decade we have been around. But of course, in the last few years we have played a lot against them.”