Real Madrid have an aura about them that may be overwhelming to so a lot of their opponents.

But that does not apply to Manchester City supervisor Pep Guardiola, who has an excellent file towards the 14-time champions of Europe.

As Treble-chasing City put together to tackle Real in a mouth-watering Champions League semi-final, Guardiola will not really feel any intimidation given his file towards them as a coach reads: Played 21, received 12, drawn 4, misplaced 5.

Nor will the prospect of a packed Santiago Bernabeu maintain any concern. Guardiola’s file there’s much more eye-catching, with six wins from 10 visits and solely two defeats.

Of course, a kind of losses got here 12 months in the past, when City had been seconds away from reaching the ultimate earlier than capitulating in stoppage time.

The different got here as Bayern Munich coach, a part of a 5-0 mixture humbling within the 2013-14 Champions League semi-finals.

But Guardiola will favor to replicate on the numerous events his groups have stormed the citadel.

City got here from behind to win 2-1 within the Bernabeu of their 2019-20 last-16 assembly with Real, targets from Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne, a penalty, gave them a primary leg benefit.

Because of the Covid pandemic, it took one other six months to finish the tie, City repeating the scoreline at a abandoned Etihad Stadium to advance 4-2 on mixture.

In his press convention on Monday, Guardiola was reminded by a Catalan journalist about certainly one of his best hours when in control of Barcelona.

That got here in 2011, when two Lionel Messi targets gave his all-conquering workforce a 2-0 first leg benefit in a stormy semi-final tie with Jose Mourinho’s Madrid.

A nasty-tempered affair noticed Barcelona’s substitute goalkeeper Jose Pinto being despatched off for his half in a fracas on the touchline following the half-time whistle.

Real defender Pepe was dismissed for a reckless excessive sort out on Dani Alves and Mourinho was subsequently despatched to the stands for sarcastically mouthing ‘nicely accomplished’ to the fourth official.

With certainly one of their most influential gamers again within the dressing room, Real had been breached twice by Messi, his second aim a mesmerising 30 yard dribble.

The brilliance of Guardiola’s Barca was actually highlighted by their home encounters with Real round that point.

In February 2009, for instance, they thrashed Real 6-2 within the Bernabeu, with Messi and Thierry Henry each scoring twice.

Mourinho’s first style of the Clasico, in November 2010, resulted in a 5-0 hiding on the Nou Camp. Messi did not rating that point however David Villa, Pedro, Xavi and the long-forgotten Jeffren did.

Indeed, Guardiola received his first 5 conferences with Real earlier than Mourinho’s workforce clinched the Copa del Rey in 2011 with a 1-0 success.

Normal service was resumed when Barca received that 2011 Champions League semi-finals earlier than Real’s 2012 league title win turned the tables just a little.

Nonetheless, Guardiola recorded each league and cup wins within the Bernabeu that season to proceed his high quality file.

His Bayern workforce by no means matched the requirements set by Carlo Ancelotti’s Real, nonetheless, and the gulf was brutally illustrated in that 2014 Champions League semi-final.

Having escaped from the Bernabeu with only a one-goal deficit within the first leg, Guardiola would have fancied Bayern’s possibilities however they had been merely demolished.

Sergio Ramos twice headed residence inside the primary 20 minutes after which it was the Cristiano Ronaldo present because the eventual match winners ran riot.

City’s 2020 win there, impressed by Kevin De Bruyne’s help for Jesus and coolly-converted penalty, proved they may combine it with the easiest in Europe. 

But following the Covid interruption, Guardiola obtained his ways terribly flawed within the quarter-final towards Lyon and a golden likelihood was blown.

Then there was final time. Guardiola spoke about having to re-watch horror present of being 5-3 forward on mixture coming into the closing levels, just for Rodrygo to attain twice and drive further time.

With City’s confidence floored, Karim Benzema’s penalty despatched Real into one more remaining and victory over Liverpool which gave them a 14th European crown.

That will probably be in the back of Guardiola’s thoughts on Tuesday night, little question, however with Erling Haaland fulfilling the talisman position for him as Messi as soon as did, he has no motive to concern the problem.