![\"Pep](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_Pep-Guardiola.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPep Guardiola has questioned the format of the expanded Champions League after Manchester City were drawn to face Real Madrid despite meeting in the league phase<\/p>\n
Pep Guardiola says the new Champions League format is ‘weird’ after Manchester City were drawn against Real Madrid again(Image: Man City)<\/p>\n
Pep Guardiola has described the new Champions League<\/a> format as ‘weird’ after learning Manchester City<\/a> will play Real Madrid<\/a> again in the last 16 – just months after beating them in the league phase.<\/p>\n City, who won the competition for the first time back in 2023, have now played the Spanish giants in various stages of the Champions League for five successive years. The new extended format, which was implemented two years ago, fails to prevent teams who faced off in the initial league phase meeting in the first knockout round.<\/p>\n That means City and Real will meet again<\/a> just a little over two months since Guardiola<\/a>‘s team were victorious at the Bernabeu.<\/p>\n And the former Barcelona<\/a> head coach has suggested that the competition should tweak the rules to ensure teams who meet in the league phase are kept apart in the last 16.<\/p>\n READ MORE: VAR gets EVEN MORE power as football lawmakers make controversial rule changes<\/a>READ MORE: PSG ‘lodge request’ immediately after Chelsea Champions League draw as agreement reached<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cYes, it is a little bit weird<\/a> [to face Real Madrid again],\u201d he said. \u201cNot many times does it happen that the last game of the group stage \u2014 Real Madrid v Benfica \u2014 is the first draw. It looks different. People will agree or disagree, but it is different.\u201d<\/p>\n When he was asked if UEFA should change the rules, Guardiola replied: \u201cWhy not? How many times have we played against \u00adNewcastle<\/a> this season [the Premier League<\/a> clubs meet in the FA Cup<\/a> next weekend, having already contested a two-legged Carabao Cup semi- final]? Hopefully we can play against them in the [Champions League] final!<\/p>\n \u201cToday is different. When I started, it was eight, nine, ten teams, they want to increase a lot with the schedule and calendar. It is a question of adapting. What can we do?\u201d<\/p>\n Manchester City beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu back in December(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n The teams still alive and kicking in the tournament now know their prospective routes to the final, which will be held at the end of May in Budapest.<\/p>\n But Guardiola refuted claims that Manchester City are on the more challenging side of the draw, saying: \u201c[It] would be so disrespectful [to], for example, Newcastle, Barcelona, top teams, Atletico Madrid or Spurs. So I\u2019m not a fan of that [saying it\u2019s the easier half of the draw].<\/p>\n \u201cThe Champions League is so \u00addifficult. I\u2019m not saying Madrid is not difficult, everybody knows it, but the rest of the teams that you play, I don\u2019t know, you can name me any team, all of them, they have the ‘trick’. If you want to go through in this competition right now, you have to win against the best teams, otherwise you don\u2019t deserve it.\u201d<\/p>\n Join our new WhatsApp community <\/a>and receive your daily dose of Mirror <\/a>Football <\/a>content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a349<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Erling](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_GettyImages-2251239619.jpg\")
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