The matches between Real Madrid and Manchester City have become a true Champions League derby, said Spanish team player Rodrigo ahead of the new duel between the two teams in Europe's most elite competition.
In each of the last four Champions League seasons, one of these two teams has eliminated the other from the knockout stage, and those two clubs have won three titles in that period - Real Madrid in 2021/21 and 2023/24 and Manchester City in 2022/23.
The new match between Real and City, in the sixth round of the Champions League, is scheduled for Wednesday at 9:00 PM in Madrid.
"I think it was the most unforgettable football moment," Rodrigo said in an interview with the Uefa website, recalling the semi-final meeting with Manchester City in 2022.
The memories might not be so fond if it weren't for the role Rodrigo played in the second leg. The then 21-year-old came on in the 68th minute and then scored two goals, in the 90th and 91st minutes, forcing extra time at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Karim Benzema's 95th-minute penalty then sent the home team to the final, where Real beat Liverpool 1-0 to win their 14th Champions League crown.
Real Madrid ended up on the losing side in the semi-finals the following year, with Manchester City winning 5-1 on aggregate en route to their first Champions League title.
Pep Guardiola's players were particularly impressive in the 4-0 home win in the second leg, but memories of the first leg (1-1) also hurt Rodrigo.
"The pain after the first game comes to mind, when we could have beaten them but we fell short. The second leg was unforgettable. They were in top form, we weren't. It's hard to erase that game from memory," said Rodrigo.
Rodrigo was once again among the scorers and on the winning team in the 2023/24 season when Real triumphed on penalties in the quarter-finals.
"The first game was incredible, a spectacle," Rodrigo said of the match that ended 3-3 in Madrid.
"It captured the essence of all the Real and City games in previous years. It was great and for me it was a privilege to be on the pitch and score a goal that day," he added.
The Brazilian then scored the only goal against Real in the second leg, which ended 1:1. After penalties, Real won 4:3.
"The match in England was difficult. I was lucky to score again, but we struggled a lot throughout the game," Rodrigo recalled.
Real then defeated Bayern Munich in the semi-finals and Borussia Dortmund in the final to win their 15th Champions League trophy.
Last season, Real Madrid won 6-3 on aggregate, led by Kylian Mbappe, and secured their place in the round of 16.
"I think it was the first year we had more control in both games," Rodrigo said.
Before the new duel between these two teams in the Champions League, Real has four wins and one loss, and City has three wins and one draw and one loss.
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