'A bit of an apology' - How Man City will look to Etihad inspiration again vs Real Madrid

When Fede Valverde was asked which stadium was the most difficult to play in last October, the Real Madrid midfielder's response was immediate. "[The Etihad] stadium. Their fans and the way they play, all difficult."

It's not a response that fits with the social media narrative from rival supporters, but then the evidence is starting to stack up in favour of Valverde. City are unbeaten in 41 games at the Etihad, dating back to November 2022, and some of Europe's best teams have been dispatched with their tail between their legs.

Real suffered that ignominy last season, beaten 4-0 in the Champions League semi-final second leg. Liverpool and Arsenal have both thrashed 4-1 during that current run, while Bayern Munich were beaten 3-0. Avoid defeat tomorrow and City will equal their club record unbeaten home run of 42 games, which dates back to 1921.

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Having once again drawn the first leg of a Champions League showdown with Real in the Bernabeu, history is on City's side and Bernardo Silva remembers just how important a factor the Etihad was last season, while also admitting that stunning performance was an "apology" to the supporters for the way they had blown a two-goal advantage in the semi-final the year before.

"We have that feeling and we still have the feeling that at home we are very strong with our people," he said. "After what happened the season before when we were knocked out by Real Madrid at the Bernabeu we wanted to put things right and that performance was also a bit of an apology to our fans for what happened the season before, because we feel we owed them another chance to win the competition.

"Now it is a different game, different teams, we have our signings and players that left. Let’s see but we are very confident because we play at home."

Guardiola regularly calls for backing from the Etihad crowd and he has no doubts they will deliver on Wednesday night, when a win would book City a fourth consecutive semi-final spot in the Champions League.

Last year they took the final step by beating Inter in the final in Istanbul to complete a momentous treble and while that has eased the pressure on the Blues, Guardiola knows they still need to make the Etihad a hostile environment.

"It's true that the fact we won it has made us feel better and more comfortable but we need the right energy. Our people at home will help us a lot," he said.

"We have sold out. We need a lot of noise and presence from them, especially in bad moments, because, as I said before the game in Madrid, in a game of over 90 minutes there are moments you are better and moments you have to suffer. We need them.

"They will be there, I'm pretty sure of that. They know we will be. I'm not talking about winning or losing but being present, who we are. Always we have been there in the last years and I have the feeling that we are prepared to perform well, at our maximum, our best, otherwise you cannot reach the semi-finals against teams like Real Madrid."