PEP GUARDIOLA lied when he said Manchester City only have a one per cent chance of knocking out Real Madrid.

But the Spaniard still accepts his side will have to be “almost perfect” if they are to overturn a 3-2 Champions League play-off round first-leg deficit at the Bernabeu.

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The Etihad chief wants his players to give the holders a “scare” and said: “Every time I say what I think, you don’t believe me but this time you got it right — I lied.”

With a smile on his face, Guardiola added: “It’s true I said it because after the match in England, we were out.

“Always it’s very tough coming to the Bernabeu, with the history but we’ve had good moments here.

“Let’s see if we can at least scare them and we’ll see what happens.”

Real manager Carlo Ancelotti laughed off Pep’s claims, saying: “Before the game I’ll ask him if he really thinks they have a one per cent chance of winning.

“We certainly don’t think we have a 99 per cent chance. We have a small advantage but have to make the most of it.”

City have won at the home of the Spanish giants before  — back in 2020 — and will have to repeat that to stay in the competition.

Yet one thing his team have not been short of in this troubled season is goals — with 33 coming in their last ten games in all competitions.

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They will need more if they are to get through as Madrid will fancy their chances of adding to the three they netted in the first leg.

That came after City threw away a 2-1 lead with just four minutes of normal time remaining to lose 3-2.

Guardiola said: “We have to be almost perfect but we are coming here with a situation that is not perfect. We have to attack and score goals.

“You have to play with courage, you have to be yourself. You have to play to win the game.”

Madrid have only ONCE failed to go through in this competition after winning the away leg first — and that was to Erik ten Hag’s Ajax in a 4-1 loss six years ago.

Guardiola said: “The pressure is there but  it’s welcome. You cannot perform well without it.

“It depends how we play, how we handle the moments. In the big  stadiums you have to suffer the bad moments.”

City have been boosted as Erling Haaland was passed fit despite jarring his knee on Saturday.