MANCHESTER, England, Feb. 11 -- Manchester City and Real Madrid go head-to-head again in the Champions League on Tuesday, with the eventual loser facing an unusually early exit from European club soccer's most prestigious tournament.

The giants are meeting in the two-legged playoffs after struggling in the new-look league phase of the competition.

This is the fourth year in a row they have faced each other in the Champions League, with the winner on the three previous occasions going on to lift the trophy.

City heads into the first leg in the middle of a disappointing campaign that has seen their Premier League title defense unravel. But Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti still believes his team will have to overcome one of the best in the w...