Pep Guardiola shares concern over FOUR ‘exceptional’ Real Madrid stars

Manchester City and Real Madrid will be facing off in the UEFA Champions League Knockout Round playoffs for the chance to progress to the Round of 16 of Europe’s premier club competition.

Having failed to finish in the top eight in the League Stage of the Champions League this seasonseason, both teams will renew their rivalry on Tuesday night and it promises to be an epic match.

The first leg of the tie will be held at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening, and ahead of the match, Guardiola has spoken highly of Madrid, who beat Man City in the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier club competition last season.

According to Guardiola, Madrid’s front four of Mbappe, Bellingham, Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior are impossible to stop.

Kylian Mbappe celebrates with Vinicius Junior after scoring. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Guardiola told Mundo Deportivo: “I have a lot of respect for Madrid and their players, it has always been like this. We know that they have a lot of talent, but Madrid has always stood out for being solid.

“When you get four forwards like they have to get involved in defence, the team is much better.”

Speaking specifically about the threat posed by Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Bellingham, Guardiola noted: “It’s impossible to control these players in 90/120/200 minutes.

“They are exceptional, everyone knows it: how they combine, the skill in the one-on-one, how they keep the ball, the four are exceptional and we have to try to reduce their participation.”

Meanwhile, Madrid have had severe injury problems in defence this season and have suffered yet another blow ahead of the first leg against Man City on Tuesday.

Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and David Alaba were already out of the trip to Manchester, and now Madrid have announced that Lucas Vazquez will not feature in the game.