Real Madrid is a different side from last season, mainly to midfielder Jude Bellingham’s “obvious” effect, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said after his team was drawn to meet the LaLiga club in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Holders City defeated the 14-time Champions League winners in the semi-finals last season, drawing 1-1 away and winning 4-0 at the Etihad in the second leg.
Bellingham, who joined Real from Borussia Dortmund in July for about 103 million euros ($112.1 million), has 20 goals and nine assists for the Spanish club in all competitions this season.
Asked about the leading LaLiga goalscorer, the City manager told reporters on Friday: “(Bellingham’s) impact has been massive. It’s a different team from last season. His influence is obvious, and we have to try to discover what he does to control it.
“Facing Real Madrid is always a tough challenge, nobody can deny it. They are an exceptional club, and in this competition they can control many things with the experience they have in the past.
“Like last season there will be moments for them and moments for us. The longer we can keep our moments, we’ll be closer. We’ll try to do a good performance in Madrid and then here, with our people, do it again.”
The first legs of the Champions League’s quarter-finals will be played from April 9-10 and second legs on April 16-17.
City plays Newcastle United in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday and face Arsenal in the Premier League after the international break.
