Real Madrid vs. Man City: Erling Haaland's record against Los Blancos before Champions League clash

Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland can both write a new page of personal history and aid the Citizens' quest for Champions League stardom in Wednesday's playoff second leg with Real Madrid.

The Norway international was on target twice in the opening encounter at the Etihad last week, but his former Borussia Dortmund teammate Jude Bellingham had the last laugh with a late winner in a 3-2 triumph for the holders.

Needing to lace up his best shooting boots to ensure Man City have a chance of pulling off a brilliant Bernabeu comeback, Haaland will reach 50 Champions League goals in record time if he scores on Wednesday evening.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the 24-year-old's record against Los Blancos ahead of the second leg of their playoff tie.

Erling Haaland's record vs. Real Madrid

Played: 5 Won: 1 Drawn: 2 Lost: 2 Goals: 2 Assists: 0

Manchester City and Real Madrid's Champions League playoff first leg in the 2024-25 season saw Erling Haaland end a personal hoodoo against Los Blancos, whom he scored against for the very first time at the Etihad.

The former Borussia Dortmund man firstly prodded in the opener from Josko Gvardiol's chest-down into his path, although the Etihad had to wait for several moments before his inaugural goal against Real Madrid was given the green light by the VAR.

Haaland then coolly sent Thibaut Courtois the wrong way from the penalty spot for his second of the night after Dani Ceballos had brought down Phil Foden, although Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham soon stole his Mancunian thunder.

Nevertheless, despite the agonising manner of that 3-2 defeat, Haaland at least managed to expel the demons of Real Madrid past, having failed to score or assist a goal in his first four Champions League games against them.

The Scandinavian was powerless to prevent City going out to the 15-time winners in the 2023-24 quarter-finals and did not even take a penalty in the second leg, having been taken off for Julian Alvarez at the end of the 90.

Haaland also started both legs of City and Real Madrid's 2022-23 semi-final battle but again failed to trouble Los Blancos, although his teammates picked up the slack in a 5-1 aggregate annihilation.

All in all, Haaland has only been on the winning side in one of his previous five matches against Real Madrid, drawing two of them while also suffering two defeats.

Blancos defender Antonio Rudiger has repeatedly come out on top in his battles with the striker in the past, and with the Germany international looking likely to return from injury in time for the second leg, Haaland's historic 50 could be in jeopardy.