Pep Guardiola names Real Madrid's difference maker after dream Champions League draw

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has singled out the impact of Jude Bellingham after his side were drawn against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

City, crowned champions of Europe for the first time last season, will take on 14-time winners Real Madrid in the last eight of the competition, with the first leg of their tie set to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 9.

Madrid will head to England eight days later for the return tie looking to banish the memories of the two clubs' semi-final meeting last season. City earned a creditable 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital and then thumped Carlo Ancelotti's side 4-0 on their return to home soil.

Many regard City as favourites to retain their crown, but Madrid have shown flashes of brilliance this season after adding Bellingham to their ranks from Borussia Dortmund. It's perhaps no surprise that he was the player Guardiola admitted to being the difference maker for Madrid, with Bellingham's impact evident with a quick glance at his record this season.

"[Bellingham's] impact has been massive. It's a different team from last season. His iNFLuence is obvious, and we have to try to discover what he does to control it," Guardiola told the media on Friday.

"Facing Real Madrid is always a tough challenge, nobody can deny it. They are an exceptional club, and in this competition they can control many things with the experience they have in the past.

"Like last season there will be moments for them and moments for us. The longer we can keep our moments, we'll be closer. We'll try to do a good performance in Madrid and then here, with our people, do it again."

Guardiola also referred to Madrid as the "kings of the comPetition" when talking to reporters, but opposite number Ancelotti was keen to put the pressure back on City given they are defending champions.

"City are one of the favourites, we all think so and it will be very hard," Ancelotti said. "The idea we have is to win the competition and, to do that, you must beat the best. City may be the best in Europe at the moment. It will be tough, of course, but if you want to be European champions, you must eliminate them."

As for Bellingham, he has scored 20 goals in 31 appearances across all comPetitions, including dramatic last-gasp winners in the Champions League group stages and in the 20-year-old's first ever Clasico against Barcelona.

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