Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confessed that their Champions League match against Real Madrid will be “extremely difficult.”
The two European heavyweights will face off in the knockout rounds on Friday.
City will host the first leg at the Etihad Stadium on February 11 or 12, with the return match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on February 18 or 19.
But first, Guardiola brings his club to North London to play Arsenal in the Premier League.
The game marks the start of a difficult February for City, who also face Newcastle, Liverpool, and Tottenham, as well as a Champions League double-header against Real Madrid before the end of the month.
“We started in Paris and then Chelsea, so we are already there with difficult games,” according to Guardiola.
“We have dealt with this kind of incredible tie schedule for many, many years, so it’s not a problem.
“Madrid is quite challenging. We are aware of this. It’s difficult playing against Real Madrid, and the issue is in the middle, against Newcastle.”
Rodri has been linked with a place in the Champions League team for the second half of the season.
The Spaniard is back in Manchester after spending the first part of his rehabilitation in Madrid.
Guardiola has warned about the hazards of the 28-year-old returning too soon.
“The most important thing for him is to recover well,” Guardiola stated.
“He is hardly a teenager, but he still has years to play, and it will happen if he recovers properly.
“It is not wise to return for a few weeks just to suffer a setback the next season.
“The body is the body, and recovery needs its own time, but it’s going really well, and step by step we’ll see.”