Defender Ruben Dias says Manchester City can "still achieve something beautiful" and rescue "the most difficult" season.

Pep Guardiola's side host defending champions Real Madrid in the Champions League play-off first leg on Tuesday (20:00 GMT) after finishing 22nd in the group stage.

Victory over the two legs would see City qualify for the last 16 and a tie against either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen.

They have also faltered in their Premier League defence and sit fifth, 15 points behind leaders Liverpool.

"This has been the most difficult season since I have been here but I am a firm believer that even in the most difficult moments, you can still achieve something beautiful," said the Portugal centre-back, who is one of City's vice-captains.

"We know how difficult it will be to get through but we have loads of guns in the dressing room. We just have to use them in the right way."

It is the fourth successive season – and the fifth in six – City have met Madrid in the knockout stages of the tournament.

Real won on penalties when the pair met in the quarter-finals last year and Carlo Ancelotti's side went on to win their 15th title.

The score is level at two each in what Guardiola has suggested is the Champions League's biggest modern rivalry.

It is also the first time the two sides have met since Madrid players snubbed the Ballon D'Or ceremony in protest at Rodri being named the world's best player ahead of their team-mate Vinicius Jr.

City were unimpressed by what they regarded as disrespectful behaviour by Real.

However Dias, who was with Rodri in Paris, said he was not affected by whether Real were there or not.

"Being honest with you, I didn't spend one second thinking about it," said the 27-year-old.

"I was happy for Rodri. Vinicius had an extraordinary year and also deserved it. It's like in the past when [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo] were fighting for it."

Guardiola has already abandoned any hope of City extending their record run of four successive Premier League titles.

They are out of the EFL Cup and were unimpressive in beating League One Leyton Orient to reach the FA Cup fifth round.

That was one of seven wins in 10 games since ending their record of one victory in 13 matches that has done so much damage to their season.

However, that relative improvement in results is scarred by disappointments.

They drew at Brentford despite taking a two-goal lead and lost at Paris St-Germain after establishing a similar advantage. The 5-1 loss at Arsenal was as poor a performance as City have produced under Guardiola.

And, even with the addition of £180m worth of talent during the winter transfer window, the City manager accepts he has no idea which version of his side will turn up against Madrid.

"We have been unstable this season when we have not been in the past," he said.

"What's defined the team over the last decade is that we have been an incredible machine every three days.

"This year, we have not been consistent. Of course we can perform well tomorrow. Of course we can perform well in Madrid. Before I can tell you that will happen. I don't know how we will react.

"Of course it would be good to continue for the club, for the prestige of winning this competition. I like to feel, week by week, month by month, we are there. Now it's like, I don't know."