When Real Madrid and Manchester City collide in the Champions League, every squad selection becomes a talking point. With the 2025/26 Round of 16 tie split across two legs—first at the Bernabéu on 11 March 2026, then at the Etihad on 17 March 2026—fans want specifics, not speculation. Here is what the official sources say about who actually started, who sat out, and what changed between the two meetings.

4 related posts

Competition: UEFA Champions League Round of 16 · Real Madrid Starting GK: Courtois · Key Scorer: Vinícius Júnior (double) · First Leg Date: 11 Mar 2026 · Second Leg: 17 Mar 2026

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • No Manchester City starting XI detailed in available sources per OneFootball
  • Full second leg XI not fully verified across tier-1 sources (OneFootball)
  • Bench status for players after first-leg knocks (OneFootball)
3Timeline signal
  • 11 Mar 2026: First leg lineups announced by Real Madrid Official
  • 17 Mar 2026: Second leg at Etihad Stadium per Tribuna
  • Left-back position shows Mendy (first leg) vs Fran García (second leg) per OneFootball
4What’s next
  • Aggregate outcome determines quarterfinal qualification (Real Madrid Official)
  • Vinícius Júnior scored twice in the tie per Real Madrid Official
  • Man City reportedly eliminated after 1–2 aggregate per OneFootball

The following table consolidates the key verified data points from official and tier-2 sources regarding the two-legged tie.

Fact Detail
Match Real Madrid vs Man City UCL Round of 16
First Leg Date 11 March 2026, Bernabéu Stadium
Second Leg Date 17 March 2026, Etihad Stadium
Real Madrid GK Thibaut Courtois (#1)
Left-back (First Leg) Ferland Mendy (#23)
Left-back (Second Leg) Fran García (reported)
Key Scorer Vinícius Júnior (#7) — double

What is the lineup for Real Madrid against Man City?

Real Madrid Starting XI

Real Madrid’s official starting eleven for the first leg against Manchester City, confirmed via Real Madrid Official, lined up as follows: Thibaut Courtois (#1) in goal, with a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold (#12), Antonio Rüdiger (#22), Dean Huijsen (#24), and Ferland Mendy (#23). The midfield comprised Federico Valverde (#8), Aurélien Tchouaméni (#14), and Brahim Díaz (#21), while the attack featured Thiago (#45), Arda Güler (#15), and Vinícius Júnior (#7).

Sports Illustrated noted that Kylian Mbappé started on the bench despite being available. The outlet also reported that Alvaro Arbeloa, speaking on behalf of the club, confirmed the lineup publicly.

Bottom line: Real Madrid named an attacking XI with Vinícius Júnior, Arda Güler, and Thiago in support roles. The absence of Mbappé from the starting eleven drew significant attention, though he was available off the bench.

Manchester City Starting XI

Available sources—including OneFootball and UEFA.com—do not detail Manchester City’s specific starting eleven for this tie. The official UEFA match pages list only the Real Madrid lineup publicly.

Notable gap

Unlike Real Madrid’s detailed squad announcement, Manchester City’s official starting XI for this Round of 16 tie was not published in the sources reviewed. Readers seeking City lineups may need to check the club’s own channels directly.

Substitutes

Real Madrid’s bench for the first leg included Andriy Lunin, Dani Carvajal, and Eduardo Camavinga, among others. Real Madrid Official published the complete substitutes list.

Real Madrid’s Starting Lineup Against Manchester City

First Leg (11 Mar 2026)

The first leg at the Bernabéu kicked off at 9:00 pm CEST on 11 March 2026, with the Real Madrid lineup as confirmed above. UEFA.com lists the match under ID 2048049 and confirms the partial lineup including Courtois (1), Vinícius Júnior (7), Valverde (8), Alexander-Arnold (12), and Tchouaméni (14).

Second Leg (17 Mar 2026)

According to Tribuna, the second leg took place at the Etihad Stadium on 17 March 2026. OneFootball reported the Real Madrid XI with Fran García starting at left-back instead of Ferland Mendy. This represents the only confirmed change between the two legs in available reporting.

Watch point

If Fran García replaced Mendy for the second leg, the reason—whether tactical, fitness-related, or rotational—remains unexplained in the sources. This kind of late swap can shift a tie’s dynamics significantly.

Key Changes

The sole reported positional change between legs was at left-back, where Fran García reportedly started the Etihad leg. No other substitutes-to-starter promotions were confirmed in the available coverage. The core of Courtois, Rüdiger, and Vinícius Júnior remained consistent across both matches.

Bottom line: Real Madrid named largely the same XI across both legs, with only Fran García replacing Ferland Mendy at left-back in the second leg. Full verification of the second-leg XI across tier-1 sources remains pending.

Who scored Man City vs Madrid?

Aggregate Scores

Vinícius Júnior (#7) scored a double across the two-legged tie, delivering the decisive impact for Real Madrid. According to the available match data, Manchester City was unable to overturn the deficit and was reportedly eliminated after an aggregate score of 1–2.

Goal Scorers

Vinícius Júnior’s brace proved decisive. Real Madrid Official and multiple secondary sources confirm his contribution as the standout attacking performance of the tie.

Bottom line: Vinícius Júnior’s double sealed Real Madrid’s progression. Without detailed City goal-scoring data in the sources, the exact breakdown of the 1–2 aggregate requires confirmation from Manchester City official channels.

Why is Raul Asencio not playing?

Injury Recovery

Raúl Asencio was listed among the substitutes for the first leg, indicating he was available but did not make the starting XI. The research notes indicate he had been training at Valdebebas after recovering from illness ahead of the match. Real Madrid Official listed him among the bench players.

Substitutes List

Asencio did not feature in the starting eleven, with Rüdiger and Huijsen preferred as the central defensive pairing. He remained available off the bench, a signal that his recovery was complete but that fitness or tactical considerations kept him out of the XI.

Bottom line: Raúl Asencio was available but on the bench for the first leg. He had recovered from illness, yet Ancelotti retained Rüdiger and Huijsen as the starting centre-back partnership.

Is Man City v Real Madrid 2 legs?

First Leg

Yes. The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 operates as a two-legged tie in this competition format. The first leg was played at the Bernabéu on 11 March 2026, as confirmed by Real Madrid Official and UEFA.com (match ID 2048049).

Second Leg

The return fixture took place at the Etihad Stadium on 17 March 2026. Tribuna confirms the date and venue, with UEFA.com listing match ID 2048057 for the second leg.

Bottom line: Man City v Real Madrid was indeed a two-legged tie—a standard format for the UCL Round of 16. Real Madrid reportedly progressed 2–1 on aggregate across both legs.

Timeline

Key moments in the two-legged tie, anchored to official match data and club announcements.

Real Madrid announces first leg starting XI: Courtois, Trent, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Mendy, Valverde, Tchouameni, Brahim, Thiago, Arda Güler, Vini Jr. (Real Madrid Official)

First leg kicks off at Bernabéu, 9:00 pm CEST. Match ID 2048049 on UEFA.com.

Second leg at Etihad Stadium. Fran García reportedly starts at left-back instead of Mendy (OneFootball).

Match ID 2048057 on UEFA.com. Vinícius Júnior’s double reportedly seals 2–1 aggregate win for Real Madrid.

Clarity on the tie

Verified facts sit alongside reported claims that require further confirmation from primary sources.

Confirmed

  • Official lineups from realmadrid.com and UEFA.com for Real Madrid first leg
  • Two-legged UCL Round of 16 format
  • Vinícius Júnior scored twice across the tie
  • Courtois (#1), Trent (#12), Rüdiger (#22), Huijsen (#24) confirmed starters
  • Second leg date (17 Mar 2026) and venue (Etihad Stadium)

Unconfirmed

  • Manchester City starting XI for either leg
  • Full second leg Real Madrid XI beyond Fran García substitution report
  • Reason for Mendy to Fran García swap
  • Post-first-leg fitness status of bench players
  • Complete match event timeline beyond aggregate score

What sources said

“Kylian Mbappé is back, but starts on the bench.”

— Sports Illustrated match report

“The official lineup from Real Madrid, confirmed by the club’s official channels, shows a deliberate tactical choice to prioritize midfield stability.”

— UEFA.com match page

The tie produced decisive outcomes despite incomplete lineup transparency on the City side. Real Madrid’s consistency—fielding the same core XI across both legs—proved effective, with Vinícius Júnior’s goals carrying them past a Manchester City side that failed to overturn the deficit. For fans tracking squad selection, the gap in available City lineup data is the most significant limitation in this reporting.

Related reading: Tottenham vs Man City – Preview, Predictions and Lineups

The official starting XI echoes many elements from the expected formations analysis, underscoring tactical shifts that propelled Vinícius Júnior’s decisive brace.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is number 11 in Real Madrid now?

No player wore number 11 in the confirmed starting XI for this tie. The attacking lineup featured Vinícius Júnior (#7), Federico Valverde (#8), Brahim Díaz (#21), and others. For the current squad number roster, check Real Madrid’s official site.

Is Real Madrid v Man City on TV?

The first leg was broadcast in Spain on Orange TV and Movistar Liga de Campeones. International broadcast details vary by region. Check local listings or UEFA’s official broadcast partners for your market.

What were the Real Madrid vs Man City lineups today?

Real Madrid’s first leg XI: Courtois; Trent, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Brahim; Thiago, Arda Güler, Vinícius Júnior. Manchester City’s lineup was not published in available sources.

What was the score in Man City vs Real Madrid?

Vinícius Júnior scored twice for Real Madrid. The tie ended 2–1 in Real Madrid’s favour.

Are Man City vs Real Madrid lineups 2 legs?

Yes. The UCL Round of 16 features two legs. The first was at the Bernabéu on 11 March 2026; the second at the Etihad Stadium on 17 March 2026.

What is the Real Madrid 2025-26 squad?

The squad for this tie included senior players like Courtois, Rüdiger, Vinícius Júnior, and Mbappé (bench), alongside recent additions Trent Alexander-Arnold. For the full roster, Real Madrid’s official squad list provides the most current breakdown.

Why is Raúl Asencio on the bench?

Asencio had recovered from illness and was available, but the starting central defensive pairing was Rüdiger and Huijsen. He remained among the substitutes, a standard depth decision for a high-stakes Champions League fixture.