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How to watch Real Madrid vs Man City: Free Streams, TV Channels & Preview for Champions League Round of 16 1st leg

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The standout tie of the round features rivalries renewed as Pep Guardiola & Co travel to the Bernabéu

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid reacts during the LaLiga EA Sports match between RC Celta de Vigo and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Abanca-Balaidos on March 06, 2026 in Vigo, Spain.
(Image credit: Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
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Watch Real Madrid vs Man City live streams as the European heavyweights face each other in the Champions League knockout stages for the fifth consecutive year. Both sides are experiencing campaigns marred by inconsistency, but this Round of 16 1st leg is the perfect time to spark their 2025/26 seasons into life.

Madrid lost three of their final five fixtures in the league phase – including a 2-1 reverse at home to City – as they finished in the playoff spots, eventually securing a 3-1 aggregate win over Benfica to reach the UCL last 16. They’ve also struggled at times in La Liga – they trail leaders Barcelona by four points – and recently lost back-to-back games to Getafe and Osasuna, before requiring a 95th-minute Fede Valverde winner to overcome Celta Vigo last weekend.

Manager Álvaro Arbeloa has found it tough going since taking over from Xabi Alonso in January but will hope his side can get back to their best in a competition they have won a record 15 times. They will need a big performance from Vinícius Jnr, especially with Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham set to miss out through injury.

City, meanwhile, are seven points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League after losing five games so far this season. However, they have improved since the turn of the year, with new signings Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guéhi making an immediate impact. Pep Guardiola will hope the duo can help them secure revenge for last season’s 6-3 aggregate defeat to Los Blancos in the playoffs.

Read on for our guide on where to watch Real Madrid vs Man City live streams online, on TV and potentially for free wherever you are.

Can I watch Real Madrid vs Man City for free?

Yes. RTE are broadcasting Real Madrid vs Man City in Ireland and the game will be shown free via its streaming service, RTE Player.

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How to watch Real Madrid vs Man City live streams in the US

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The Real Madrid vs Man City live stream is on Paramount Plus in the USA.

Subscriptions to Paramount Plus start at $8.99 per month and you can save on any package by committing to a yearly subscription.

However, you can get Paramount Plus for FREE now via the Walmart+ 30-day trial for $1.

Outside of the US for the UCL stream? Use a VPN to watch Paramount Plus from abroad while you're away from home.

How to watch Real Madrid vs Man City live streams in the UK

Live stream uk

The Real Madrid vs Man City live stream is on live stream is on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

You can get it by adding TNT Sports to your Sky, Virgin Media or EE TV package, or pay from £30.99 per month for a Discovery+ plan that includes TNT Sports.

Traveling away from the UK right now? Use a VPN to watch Discovery+ from abroad while you're away from home and not miss the UCL Round of 16 stream.

Official Real Madrid vs Man City broadcasters by region

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When is the Real Madrid vs Man City 2nd leg?

The 2nd leg of the Real Madrid vs Man City Champions League round 16 tie is Tuesday, March 17 at 8pm GMT / 4pm ET.

Can I watch Real Madrid vs Man City on my mobile?

Of course, most broadcasters have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone's browser. For example, TNT Sports (UK) and Paramount Plus (US) both have mobile apps.

You can also stay up-to-date with key 2025/26 Champions League moments on the official social media channels on X/Twitter (@ChampionsLeague), Instagram (@ChampionsLeague), TikTok (@ChampionsLeague) and UEFA's YouTube (@UEFA).

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Adrian Back
Adrian Back

Adrian is a freelance journalist and copywriter based in the UK. He’s written about sport for a vast range of publications including World Soccer Magazine, Newsweek, Yahoo, FourFourTwo and Red Bull. Although he has covered everything from the NBA Finals and French Open, to the London Olympics and Formula 1 in Abu Dhabi, his great passion remains football – a sport he could write and talk about all day long.

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