Why do Real Madrid have nine days off before playing against Manchester City in the Champions League?

Pep Guardiola’s team will play two games before Carlo Ancelotti’s men are next in action in the UCL quarter-finals.

Manchester City’s hopes of clinching a fifth Premier League title in six years were dealt a blow by a goalless draw at home to Arsenal on Sunday, hours before Real Madrid tightened their grip on LaLiga by defeating Athletic Club at the Santiago Bernabéu. The two teams will meet in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday 9 April but their respective preparations for a mouthwatering match-up will also be hugely contrasting.

Ahead of City’s draw against The Gunners, head coach Pep Guardiola lamented the hand he had been dealt by the fixture calendar compared to his upcoming European opponents.

“Madrid have nine days to prepare for our game. Nine days! They play this weekend and then not again until our game – while I am thinking, ‘Oh, just give me one more day!’ With one more day the difference is a lot – but there is no chance. That’s why, when you ask me about changes to the calendar, I give my opinion – but forget about it.”

The Champions League clash of the titans comes immediately after a rare weekend when no LaLiga fixtures are scheduled. As is traditionally the case, all eyes will be on the the Copa del Rey final next weekend in Spain, with Athletic Club and Mallorca facing off in the final on Saturday (6 April) at La Cartuja in Seville. LaLiga will resume with matchday 31 on Friday 12 April, with Los Blancos next in action in Mallorca the following day.

Madrid were eliminated from the competition, which they won in 2022/23, in the round of 16 by Atlético Madrid after extra time.

Manchester City, on the other hand, have two crucial Premier League games to play before Carlo