Man City’s Newcomers Spark Hope for a Stunning Comeback Against Madrid

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that his team has only a slim chance—”one percent”—of overturning their Champions League tie against Real Madrid on Wednesday. However, the club’s recent January signings could provide a much-needed boost.

City squandered a late 2-1 lead in the first leg at home, ultimately losing 3-2 to the defending champions. That collapse was part of a broader issue this season, with Guardiola’s aging squad struggling to maintain intensity in high-stakes matches, particularly in Europe.

In response, City made an uncharacteristic move by spending £170 million ($214 million) in the January transfer window to acquire Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, and Nico Gonzalez. However, none of them started the first leg, with only Marmoush making a brief cameo. Reis was left out of the Champions League squad entirely.

Guardiola may now be rethinking that decision after all three available newcomers played a key role in City’s dominant 4-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday—one of their best performances of the season.

Marmoush stole the spotlight with a first-half hat-trick, providing City with an additional goal-scoring threat alongside Erling Haaland. Meanwhile, Khusanov redeemed himself after a rocky Premier League debut against Chelsea, showcasing his defensive speed and awareness. His ability to neutralize Newcastle’s Alexander Isak suggests he could be crucial in containing Real Madrid’s lethal attacking trio of Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Rodrygo.

However, it was Gonzalez who earned the highest praise, bringing much-needed stability to City’s midfield in Rodri’s absence. Former City defender Micah Richards highlighted his impact, saying:

“City have goal-scorers who can trouble Real Madrid, but Gonzalez gives them the stability they’ve lacked. With him in the starting lineup, their chances of winning improve significantly.”

Despite these positives, City’s history against Madrid remains daunting. This marks the fourth consecutive season the two sides have clashed in the Champions League. City’s only triumph came last year, when they routed Madrid 5-1 on aggregate en route to their first European title. However, Madrid have often found ways to prevail, whether through Rodrygo’s dramatic stoppage-time heroics in 2022 or their penalty shootout win in last season’s quarter-finals.

Guardiola acknowledged the team’s struggles this season, cautioning against overconfidence after the Newcastle victory.

“The reality is we’ve been miles away from our best. One good game won’t change that. If you asked anyone before this match, we had just a one percent chance. But as long as we have a chance, we’ll fight for it.”

While the odds remain stacked against them, City’s new arrivals have injected fresh energy into the squad—offering at least a glimmer of hope for an unlikely turnaround at the Santiago Bernabéu.