PEP WANTS CITY TO WYS REAL WHO THEY ARE

PEP Guardiola has urged Manchester City to “play like who we are” as they prepare for another high-stakes Champions League meeting with Real Madrid.

Wednesday's 10pm clash marks the eighth time the teams have been paired and fifth consecutive season they’ve met in Europe and they are running neck and neck.

Of the 13 meetings between them since 2012-13, City have won four, Real five while four ended in draws.

The two teams have both scored a total of 24 goals in those matches, but City have 'n appeltjie te skil with their Santiago Bernabeu hosts after the Spaniards knocked them out the last two times.

Entering the match with Real in fifth place after four wins from five before last night’s round of matches and City down in ninth with three wins from five, Guardiola told the club’s website: “It’s never an easy place...

“Hopefully we can play like we are. I always wish, when you go to play on the big stages, to play like who we are.”

Real, meanwhile, are paaping over the availability of Kylian Mbappe, who missed Tuesday's training session after suffering a broken finger.

Elsewhere, Arsenal will aim to extend their lead at the top of the Champions League standings against Club Brugge with Gabriel Jesus in their squad as the he steps up his long-awaited return from injury, while Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle face off in a crucial fixture that could shape their race for a top-eight place.

Wednesday's Champions League fixtures:

Villareal v Copenhagen, Qarabag v Ajax (both 7.45pm), Leverkusen v Newcastle, Benfica v Napoli, Club Brugge v Arsenal, Athletic Bilbao v PSG, Juventus v Pafos, Dortmund v Bodo/Glimt (all 10pm)