The subtle Champions League rule change that will have a big impact as Man City get UEFA decision

Manchester City handed Champions League inventive by rule change

Manchester City will be back in the Champions League this season

Manchester City have been handed a clear Champions League incentive after UEFA confirmed changes to the League Phase.

City were knocked out of last season's competition in the play-off round by Real Madrid having struggled to gain a foothold in the newly-expanded competition.

Pep Guardiola's side secured a third place finish in the Premier League on the final day of the season to book a spot back in Europe's premier club competition and will be faced with a subtle change this term.

UEFA have confirmed the new seeding regulations which will reward sides who finish highest in the league phase as oppose to random draws, which was the case last season.

That means the top four teams in the league phase will be at home in the second leg for the round of 16 and the quarter-finals, while the top two sides will also be given that advantage in the semi-finals. If those teams are eliminated, then the side that knocks them out will claim home advantage in the second leg.

It means City can potentially navigate a smoother path in the knockouts should they earn a top two finish in the league phase.

But the benefits of finishing third or fourth are not as substantial, with those sides potentially penalised if they reach the last four and play teams who finished significantly lower than them in the league phase.

Only the sides who finish in the following positions can get a home second leg in the semi-final, courtesy of how the knockout phase draw is done: first, second, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th.

City already know they will be in pot one for the Champions League league phase draw on August 28.

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