Real Madrid vs Manchester City Match Schedule, Preview

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has a fully fit squad to pick from going into his side's first Champions League game of the season, but the rumoured dissatisfaction of star player Cristiano Ronaldo continues to hit the headlines at home and abroad.

Date/Time: 18 September 201211:45

Competition: UEFA Champions League

Things are going really badly for Real Madrid in La Liga. They already find themselves eight points behind Barcelona. Los Blancos have so far not been able to replicate the kind of football that saw them dethrone Barcelona in the league last season. It seems like they are yet to regain the energy they invested in their 100-point achievement.

Real Madrid are under intense pressure to “play like a team”: pass the ball accurately, defend well, attack intelligently, score and win. They will be looking to put their current league troubles aside on Tuesday.

The Portuguese manager's opposite number Roberto Mancini has no fresh injury concerns going into the game, but there are still a number of players who will miss the trip.

Brazilian right-back Maicon could be handed a European debut for his new club after starting against Stoke, with Micah Richards still battling an ankle injury and Pablo Zabaleta nursing a hamstring strain.

However, they face a huge challenge in the form of English Premier League reigning champions Manchester City. Meanwhile, the Citizens have defensive problems to settle.

It is arguably difficult to declare a winner on paper between Madrid and City. Both teams have really good players; Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Yaya Toure, Javi Garcia and Mesut Özil to name a few.

The power of mentality will surely play a huge role in the outcome of the match as this is what Group of Deaths are about. Real Madrid vs Manchester City represents various things.

The match will see Jose Mourinho reunited with ex-Inter starlet Mario Balotelli, Cristiano Ronaldo up against Manchester City for the first time since 2009 and two reigning league champions in confrontation.

Above all, this UEFA Champions League fixture could be seen as an opposotion between nine-time European winners and a team with "no history" but plenty money!