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The draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 took place earlier today and for the umpteenth time in recent seasons, Real Madrid find themselves facing Manchester City.
The two teams, who already faced off in the league phase, will lock horns again in the Round of 16, with the first leg set to be played at the Santiago Bernabeu and the return leg at Etihad Stadium.
Hugo Viana on drawing Real Madrid
Speaking to the media, Hugo Viana, director of football at Manchester City, assessed the Round of 16 clash against Real Madrid following the draw for the Champions League knockout stage.
“It will be a complicated tie, but a beautiful one to play,” Viana said.
“In these kinds of matches there is never a favourite. This is like an early final, with this type of players and coaches,” he added.
Real Madrid and Manchester City will lock horns again. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
Viana also referenced the comment made by Thibaut Courtois after Real Madrid’s tie against Benfica, when the Belgian suggested that Manchester City would be the likely opponent in the next round.
“The quality of both teams is extremely high. It’s always a different kind of match compared to what is happening in domestic leagues,” he said.
For Viana, the presence of Pep Guardiola is a decisive factor in such ties, as he remarked:
“Having Pep means having the best coach in the world – a very experienced coach. But in the end, it’s 180 minutes in which we have to be very good and perform at a very high level. We will be ready, and Real Madrid surely will be too.”
Looking ahead to the matchup, Viana confirmed that Rodri, a target for Real Madrid for the summer, will be available.
“He is playing very well, regaining his best form and improving all the time. We are very happy with Rodri,” Viana concluded.
Source: Mundo Deportivo