Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted their clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League will be “extremely difficult.

The two European heavyweights have been paired together in the knockout play-offs on Friday.

City will host the first leg at the Etihad on either February 11 or 12, with the return leg to be played at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on February 18 or 19.

But before then, Guardiola takes his team to North London to face Arsenal in the Premier League.

The game kicks off a tough February for City, who also have matches against Newcastle, Liverpool, and Tottenham, plus the Champions League double-header against Real Madrid, before the end of the month.

“We started in Paris and then Chelsea, so we are already there with difficult games,” Guardiola said.

“We have dealt with this kind of incredible tie schedule for many, many years, so it’s not a problem.

“Madrid is extremely difficult. We know that. It’s tough playing against Real, and the problem is in the middle, playing Newcastle.”

There have been suggestions that Rodri could be included in the Champions League squad for the second half of the season.

The Spaniard is back in Manchester after undergoing the first part of his recovery in Madrid.

Guardiola has warned about the risks of the 28-year-old coming back too early.

“The most important thing for him is to recover well,” Guardiola said.

“He is not a teenager, but he still has years to play, and it’s going to happen if he recovers well.

“To come back for a few weeks and then have a setback for next season is not intelligent.

“The body is the body, and recovery needs its own time, but it’s going really well, and step by step we’ll see.”