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When Courtois Faces City: A Historic Chess Match in Europe

9 March 2026

When Courtois Faces City: A Historic Chess Match in Europe
Courtois vs City: a long-running European saga

Overview

Real Madrid are bracing for a fiery fixture as they host Manchester City on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.

Historically, Madrid-City clashes are a marquee European staple, though they trail behind Madrid-Bayern and City-Juventus in frequency. This pairing ranks among the most repeated in the competition's knockout era, equal to Milan-Barcelona's 17 meetings.

Courtois and the Paradox

The Belgian keeper has faced City more times for Madrid than during his four seasons in the English Premier League combined with Chelsea.

With Chelsea, he faced City eight times; with Madrid, nine meetings against Pep Guardiola's side, a tally set to rise to 11 after the Round of 16.

In the Champions League, Courtois's record against City stands at five losses, three wins, and one draw in nine games. City remains the English club he has faced most often, with 17 appearances in total.

Author

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Emma Amme

I am Emma Amme, an English sports journalist born in 1998. Passionate about astronomy, contemporary dance, and handcrafted woodworking, I share my sensitive view of sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the match and what stage is it in?

The match is on Wednesday as the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.

What is the paradox about Courtois's encounters with City?

Courtois has faced City more times while playing for Real Madrid than during his four Premier League seasons with Chelsea.

What are Courtois's head-to-head stats against City in European play?

In nine Champions League meetings, he has five losses, three wins, and one draw. City is the English club he has faced most often, with a total of 17 encounters.