Destiny, always capricious, has set up the fourth consecutive clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid in the Champions League in the new 'playoff' that will grant access to the round of 16. In other words, one of the tournament's top favorites to win the title will be eliminated much sooner than expected. Additionally, this will be the third time Haaland and Mbappé face each other.

"I don't like to compare myself to others. I think you have to be yourself as a player. The press has been doing that (comparing players) with Ronaldo and Messi for the last ten years, and they have also been pressuring each other. I think it's been something positive," said Haaland in 2022.

Haaland vs Mbappé, Round Three

The first time they faced each other was in the round of 16 of the 2019/20 Champions League, when Haaland had just signed with Borussia Dortmund and Mbappé was still a PSG player.

In the first leg, played at Signal Iduna Park, Haaland scored both goals that gave the German team a 2-1 victory. In the return leg, however, PSG made a comeback thanks to two goals from Neymar and Bernat. Therefore, Mbappé has never scored when playing against Haaland.

Haaland Struggles Against Real Madrid

This will be Haaland’s fifth encounter against Real Madrid in the Champions League. All of them have been as a Manchester City player, and the goal is clear: to score. He has never managed to score against the team coached by Carlo Ancelotti in the previous three editions.

Although Manchester City is not in its best form, Haaland has started 2025 particularly inspired in front of goal, having scored six goals in seven matches. We'll see if he can break this bad streak against Real Madrid.

Mbappé's Love Affair with Manchester City

Unlike Haaland against Real Madrid, Mbappé has scored in all five occasions he has faced Manchester City. Specifically, he has scored three goals throughout his career: two with Monaco and one with PSG.

In fact, when he was still playing for Monaco, his goal in the round of 16 at the Etihad made him the youngest player in Champions League history to score in a knockout game.

"It’s just the beginning for him. I’m happy for him and what he's doing. However, I didn’t just play up front; I played on the left and the right. With all due respect, I don’t think anyone can change positions like that every year and maintain great performance at the highest level," Mbappé said about Haaland.