Manchester City Women were back on the training pitch at the City Football Academy on Wednesday as preparations continued for another Champions League night.
Real Madrid visit the Joie Stadium on Thursday, October 1, with kick-off scheduled for 8 pm as City look to build on their opening result in the league phase.
City began their European campaign with a dramatic 2-2 draw away to Bayern Munich. They found themselves two goals behind in Germany but showed plenty of character to fight their way back and claim a valuable point.
With six league-phase matches still to play, City will be looking to add to their tally and put themselves in a strong position to progress. The top four teams qualify directly for the quarter-finals, while those finishing fifth to 12th must navigate a play-off round.
Lessons Learned
Speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s visit, Andrée Jeglertz reflected on what his side learned from their comeback against Bayern.
“A lot of things,” Jeglertz said when asked what he took from the match.
“Mostly we didn’t start well. If you’re not on your toes, Bayern Munich will punish you, and they did. I also learned that we never give up.”
That resilience was one of the biggest positives to come from the opening fixture, with Jeglertz highlighting the mentality within his squad.
“There is a fighting spirit in this group. There is a calmness. They believe in each other and the process and will fight to the end.”
“That’s the learning from the first game.”
City will need that same mentality against a Real Madrid side boasting plenty of European experience and individual quality.
“It’s different in the Champions League. We are playing a great team with great individuals,” Jeglertz added.
“We have a great squad, and we are doing everything we can to get a great performance and result tomorrow.”
Full Focus On Real Madrid
City face another major test just three days later when Arsenal visit the Etihad Stadium in the WSL.
However, Jeglertz insists his players have no room to look beyond Thursday’s European fixture.
“If you play Real Madrid here, there are no thoughts . Of course there are thoughts about loading and time management,” he said.
“But first of all my job is to make sure we do everything we can to win tomorrow – there is no game more important. Then once it’s done we can look at Arsenal.”
With two high-profile fixtures arriving within a matter of days, managing the squad will inevitably be important, but City’s immediate attention remains firmly on Real Madrid.
Injury Absences
City will still be without several players who remain on the road to recovery.
Risa Shimizu has been unavailable since suffering a quad injury during pre-season and continues her rehabilitation.
Rebecca Knaak is also working her way back from a meniscus injury sustained while on international duty with Germany, while Vivianne Miedema continues her recovery following knee surgery.
A Familiar History
Thursday’s meeting also brings an interesting connection between the two clubs, with Caroline Weir and Hayley Raso having both represented Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Weir is perhaps the most significant link between the sides.
The Scotland international faced Real Madrid while still a City player during Champions League qualifying in 2021. The first leg in Madrid finished 1-1, with Weir putting City ahead before Kenti Robles equalised in stoppage time.
Real Madrid then won the return leg 1-0 at the Academy Stadium to progress.
Weir moved to Madrid the following summer and faced City again just weeks after joining the Spanish club.
This time, she scored the only goal as Real Madrid won 1-0 in the Spanish capital.
Weir went on to spend four seasons with Real Madrid before leaving in 2026. During her time in Spain, she made 125 appearances and scored 63 goals, becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Raso is the other player to have represented both sides. The Australian winger spent two seasons with City before joining Real Madrid ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
She later moved on to Tottenham Hotspur before joining Eintracht Frankfurt.
The history between Weir and City in particular adds another layer to Thursday’s meeting, with the former City midfielder having already experienced facing her old club from the opposite side.
Four Years In The Making
It has been four years since Manchester City and Real Madrid last met in European competition, and both clubs have changed considerably during that time.
City’s latest Champions League campaign began with a comeback against Bayern Munich. Now, Real Madrid provide another test as City return home for their first European fixture of the season at the Joie Stadium.
With valuable league-phase points at stake and a place in the knockout stages ultimately on the line, City will be hoping their home advantage can help them produce another strong European performance.
Another Champions League night awaits in Manchester.
