2019–20 Champions League Round of 16: Manchester City-Real Madrid Draw Ticks Off Twitterati, Fans Call Pep Guardiola vs Zinedine Zidane Clash As ‘Bald Derby’

Manchester City and Real Madrid were among the host of big teams set to clash in the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League round of 16. Both teams were drawn in the 2019-20 UCL round of 16 draw at Nyon on December 16, 2019 (Monday). Pep Guardiola and Zinedine, two of the biggest managerial names in world football for the first time as managers having earlier played each other as players during the course of their career. While this promises to be among the biggest match when the Champions League round of 16 kicks-off in February next year, fans found a different and unique way to look forward to this much-awaited match. Fans of both clubs called the match the “Bald Derby” referring to both Zidane and Guardiola being bald-headed men. UEFA Champions League 2019–20 Round of 16: Liverpool to Face Atletico Madrid; Manchester City to Play Against Real Madrid.

Zidane, a three-time Champions League winner as a manager with Real Madrid will have to overcome a Premier League rivals Manchester City to make progress in the competition his side dominated till 2018. Madrid, under Zidane, won a hat-trick of titles between 2015 to 2017 making the Frenchman, not just the first manager to successfully defend the elite European crown but also the first-ever to win three successive titles on the trot. Guardiola similarly led Barcelona to two Champions League crowns in 2008-09 and 2010-11 but has failed to win the competition ever since. He is chasing his first Champions League trophy with Man City. 2019–20 UEFA Champions League Schedule of Round of 16: Complete Fixtures, Match Time, Results of UCL Last 16 Draw.

The Bald Derby

First Time Face-Off as Managers

Real Madrid After Drawing Man City

Bring it On!!

Who Will Sail Through?

A Battle of Baldmen

Pep Guardiola vs Zinedine Zidane

Ohh Yes!! The Bald Derby

Baddest of the Bald!!

Bald Head Derby

Guardiola is, however, not new to Real Madrid. During his time as manager at Barcelona, Guardiola faced Madrid 18 times across all competitions, winning 9 of those while losing and drawing four times each against his once arch-rival. As the boss of Manchester City, however, Guardiola will travel for the first time to Santiago Bernabeu to face the Los Blancos. In Champions League history, City and Madrid have faced each other four times with Madrid winning two and the other two winning in draws. City are winless.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 16, 2019 08:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).