City ‘are better than Madrid’ – Rodri

Midfielder Rodri believes Manchester City are stronger than Real Madrid – but they still need to prove it.

City will have the chance to do just that as they host the Spanish champions in the longdelayed second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie tonight.

The English side hold a 2-1 aggregate lead after a memorable victory at the Bernabeu in February but they still have to finish the job.

Rodri, who joined City from Real’s rivals Atletico Madrid last summer, said: “I know we have a better team but we have to show we are a better team – of course – on the pitch, with good behaviour and personality.

“That is just a general opinion of mine. Words are worthless if you can’t demonstrate that on the field. It is down to us.

“We are a side that is full of goals, we have got talented players in every area of the field and everyone can contribute with scoring.

“But it is useless just saying that. We have got to play well and we have got to match them where they have got more than us – and that’s experience on a massive stage like this.

“They have a strong mentality. If we can match them in those areas, fate will decide.”

City may have an advantage but Real, 13-time European champions, have momentum. When the season resumed after the Covid-19 stoppage, Zinedine Zidane’s men won 10 games in a row to overtake Barcelona and win LaLiga.

Rodri added: “They are more than a team. You can never relax against them. Even if you are winning 3-0 or 4-0, they can always come back.”