What Man City need to reach Champions League top eight as play-off route and possible opponents clear

Manchester City face a fight to get into the top eight of the Champions League on the final matchday

Manchester City welcome Galatasaray to the Etihad tonight for a crucial Champions League encounter. The Blues begin the final matchday outside the top eight spots and a path straight into the last-16.

City were stunned 3-1 by Bodo/Glimt in Norway last week to drop to 11th in the standings and realistically need a win, and other results to go their way, to break back into the top eight and avoid a two-legged play-off tie next month.

It is possible for City to draw and move into the top eight but that is highly unlikely. Pep Guardiola's side need to climb three places in the standings and a win will move them above one or both of PSG and Newcastle, who play each other in Paris.

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City will also need dropped points from at least one of Real Madrid, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Sporting or Barcelona. Guardiola’s side must also factor in the possibility that Atletico Madrid and Atalanta, who start the final matchday behind City on goal difference, could overtake them with big wins. Goal difference is used to separate sides level on points, then goals scored and then away goals scored.

Should City drop into the play off round they will almost certainly finish between ninth and 16th and be seeded in the play off and so have home advantage for the second leg. The draw will be split into four pots based on predetermined pairings. Those finishing 9th and 10th will play the teams finishing 23rd and 24th. Positions 11th and 12th will play 21st and 22nd, 13th and 14th will face 19th and 20th while 15th and 16th take on 17th and 18th. As it stands City would face either PSV or Monaco but there will be plenty of movement on the final matchday.

Should City progress through the play-offs, they would face a last 16 tie against a top eight side with the second leg away from home. There will only be four possible opponents for City based on their finishing position. Should the table stay as it is, Guardiola’s side would face either Tottenham or PSG, and there will be the possibility of drawing Arsenal, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid depending on the final table. The draw for the last 16 takes place on February 27