1 hour ago
33
Manchester City beat Real Madrid 2-1 on Wednesday night to move a step closer to securing a top eight finish in the Champions League
Manchester City moved a significant step closer to a top eight finish in the Champions League with a comeback win over Real Madrid. City fell behind to an arrowed Rodrygo strike but Nico O'Reilly and an Erling Haaland penalty completed the turnaround before the break.
The victory lifted Pep Guardiola's side to fourth in the League Phase table. City have two Champions League games remaining, away at Bodo Glimt and at home to Galatasaray. Win both and the Blues will be certain of a top eight finish and a straight path into the knockout stages without the need to navigate a play-off round which proved their undoing last season.
That trip to Bodo is on January 20 with an early kick off on a plastic pitch in the Arctic circle. The conditions will be far from ideal and it comes off the back of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford. City host Galatasaray eight days later on the final matchday with that contest falling between a home game with Wolves and a trip to Tottenham.
City will almost certainly qualify with four points from their last two games while last season 16 points was enough to earn a spot in the top eight, meaning only one victory could be enough. But, having manoeuvred themselves into a strong position, the Blues will be hoping to finish strongly and give themselves a theoretically easier passage into the latter stages.
That's because a UEFA rule change means a top four or top two finish brings with it added benefits in the knockout stage. Last season, there was an open draw for who would get home advantage in the quarter finals and the last four. But this season, a place in the top four - which City currently occupy - would guarantee second-leg home advantage in the last-16 and the quarter finals.
If Guardiola's side could secure a top two spot, that privilege would extend to the last four. It would also ensure City would be in the opposite side of the draw to the League Phase winners - likely to be Arsenal - ensuring the Blues wouldn't face their Premier League rivals until the final.
Once the knockout stages begin there is no country protection in the draw, meaning City could face an English opponent. Currently, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle United all occupy places between ninth and 16th in the League Phase table and so would enter a play-off round and be potential last 16 opponents for City.
The draw for the play-offs takes place on January 30, while the draw for the last-16 onwards is on February 27. The play-off ties take place on February 17/18 and 24/25 February. The round of 16 fixtures are on March 10/11 and 17/18. The Champions League final is on May 30 in Budapest.
English (US) ·