March 10, 2026, was an unforgettable day covering European football in Madrid. As part of the media ahead of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City, I had the opportunity to attend both teams’ pre-match press conferences and observe preparations as some of the world’s biggest football figures spoke to the press. The day provided a behind-the-scenes look at how elite clubs prepare for one of the most important stages in club football.
The day began at Real Madrid’s training session, where journalists were given a glimpse of the squad’s final preparations before their highly anticipated matchup with Manchester City.
Following the training session, the media gathered for Real Madrid’s official press conference, which featured Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde alongside head coach Álvaro Arbeloa.
Later in the afternoon, I travelled with other journalists to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for Manchester City’s press conference. The English club had already completed their training session before arriving in Madrid, but the media still had the opportunity to hear from head coach Pep Guardiola and Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as they discussed the upcoming match.
The excitement of the day did not end there. After covering both press conferences, I headed across the city to attend another European clash: Atlético Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
The match report from that game can be found in my next post.