Real Madrid have no need to feel inferior to Manchester City and will “look them in the eyes” before tomorrow night’s Champions League clash, according to boss Alvaro Arbeloa.

City are favourites to advance to the quarter-finals, partly due to Madrid’s injury problems, but Arbeloa insists the 15-time European champions should not fear anyone.

He said: “We are Real Madrid and I think we feel… we never feel less than anyone else. No matter the circumstances, whoever we have in front of us; we are Real Madrid and we should not feel inferior to anyone. 

“Tomorrow we have a rival that we all know well. We know the identity of the club, the coach, the players… of what Manchester City means. They were European champion two years ago. But we are going to face it with great enthusiasm and looking them in the eyes.”

Familiar foes for Real Madrid

Madrid have faced City 11 times in the 2020s already and Arbeloa knows it will be another hard-fought tussle with Pep Guardiola’s side.

“It will be complicated,” he said. “Against a great rival, with great players and a great coach. But it will be a very nice game, highly anticipated by the fans and, obviously, we are very aware that we need them. We’re going out with the sole goal of winning the game.

“You know how important and special the Champions League is for all of us. And with that mentality, desire and enthusiasm, we want to play this game.”

Madrid will be without star striker Kylian Mbappe, who is struggling with a knee injury. He has returned to light training and Madrid hope he will be available for the second leg in Manchester next week.

Arbeloa said: “He’s much better. But as I have told you these last weeks, it is something to go day by day, to see how it evolves. But this whole week has been very positive. He has returned with great feelings and is getting better every day.”

Arbeloa expects Guardiola to spring a surprise

As a former Madrid player, Arbeloa has duelled with ex-Barcelona boss Guardiola on many occasions and he is expecting the Catalan to spring a surprise tomorrow night.

“He always has a surprise prepared,” said Arbeloa. “I think he is a coach who, no matter how much you see his teams, when there is a game of this type, you know that he has something different prepared for you. 

“Then you have to think about the many variants that they are capable of doing. What have you used on other occasions, which players may vary. I would be very surprised if tomorrow there was no change in the structure of City. Or to put in a player different from the ones he has used these last weeks. 

“But you always have to be prepared when you face a coach like Pep, because he always tends to think a lot about his approaches.”