The first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 will feature another highly anticipated match, with Manchester City traveling to the Bernabéu to challenge La Liga giants Real Madrid. Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma stated that every detail can determine the course of the game, therefore the team must learn to handle different situations effectively.

Last week in the FA Cup, Manchester City defeated Newcastle 3-1, thanks to a goal from Savio and a brace from Malmush, to advance to the quarterfinals. In addition, Manchester City will travel to Wembley Stadium this month to compete against Arsenal for the English League Cup title.

Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma stated at a press conference, "Many teams are capable of reaching the final, which is characteristic of the Champions League—there are many strong teams here. Looking back at last season, not many people believed that Paris Saint-Germain would be strong contenders for the title, but things can change. It depends on timing and the team's overall form. I think we must learn to handle various situations in the game, and now we are entering a stage where it's either advance or be eliminated, so we must deal with these situations well."

“We must minimize mistakes, because any detail can determine the outcome of the game. In the Champions League, details are everything, and the key is to keep mistakes to a minimum. We will strive to go all the way, but there are also many very strong teams aiming for the same goal.”

In addition, Donnarumma, 27, joined Manchester City last September and has already made 33 appearances for Guardiola's team in all competitions.

Donnarumma shared, "I feel like I've lived in Manchester for many years, which is a very important feeling. I have great chemistry with my teammates, and I just need to focus on doing what I do best. I feel great right now and I'm always trying to give my best to help the team."

“I just tried my best to do my job well, but building chemistry with the team was the most difficult part because it required understanding how my teammates ran. But with everyone’s help, everything else became easier, and the coach made me feel right at home.”

Donnarumma continued, "I want to thank Bernardo Silva, Diaz and Rodri. The team leaders welcomed me very warmly and made me feel at home very quickly. It's not easy to adapt to everything, including the city I live in and the team I play for."

Image source: Internet