Guardiola: Bernabeu the perfect stage for Man City to prove Champions League worth

Pep Guardiola believes there is no better place than the Estadio Bernabeu for his Manchester City team to prove their worth in this year's Champions League. 

The Citizens have been regular visitors to the Spanish capital in UEFA's flagship competition, with this their 15th meeting in the Champions League since the 2012-13 edition. 

After only losing one of his first nine away games against Madrid as a manager (W6 D2), Guardiola is winless in his last four trips to face the Spanish side (D2 L2), though. 

City, meanwhile, have lost their last two games against Los Blancos, suffering defeats home and away against them in last season's play-off round to lose 6-3 on aggregate. 

Indeed, that is as many losses as they had experienced in their previous 11 games against the LaLiga giants combined (W4 D5 L2), though Guardiola believes the iconic stadium offers the chance for his team to replicate previous successes on that ground. 

"We were in a group stage, it's different if you play the last 16 or quarter-finals or semi-finals," Guardiola told reporters. 

"Last season we arrived with all the problems, but the other games have been tight and good games. We have important players that are having their first time here in Bernabeu.

"The biggest players that make a legacy for a decade – Kevin De Bruyne, Walker, Gundogan, Stones – are not here. Many are new, they want to experience that.

"They want to know they have done it and can do it again. It's a good place to prove yourself and how you are as a team."

Guardiola has faced Madrid on 27 previous occasions, winning 48% of those matches (W13 D7 L7).

However, the Spaniard is winless in the most recent four against the Spanish side (D2 L2), though he has never gone five in succession without beating them.

And the City boss will reunite with Xabi Alonso, with the Madrid boss making 79 appearances under Guardiola at Bayern Munich between 2014 and 2016. 

But talk ahead of the game has surrounded Alonso and his position at the club, following Madrid's 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo in LaLiga last weekend. 

"Their opinion, I don't agree with their opinion," Guardiola said on speculation surrounding Alonso. 

"Of course, I have sympathy because we were together for two years, and it was an incredible experience being with him.

"Not just as managers; we share families as well. Barcelona and Real Madrid are the toughest clubs to be manager of because of the environment.

"It's a difficult place, but he knows it – it's the reality of being here.

"Many players are injured, like with us last season, but he is capable of doing what is required of that position, being manager of Real Madrid.

"Everywhere today, you have to win; otherwise, you have a problem.

"In England, what happens in the locker room always remains there, but in my experience in Spain, at Barca and Real Madrid, everybody knows everything."