Manchester City narrowly avoided an early Champions League exit, but their journey in Europe’s elite competition is far from secure.
Pep Guardiola’s side scraped into the knockout play-offs with a 3-1 comeback win over Club Brugge, yet their next challenge looms large—either 14-time European champions Real Madrid or German powerhouse Bayern Munich.
City’s passage to the play-offs was anything but smooth. A chaotic season in Europe saw them finish a lowly 22nd in the new league phase, a far cry from their dominant 2023 Champions League-winning campaign.
Their struggles have raised serious concerns about their ability to compete against the best, and now, they must overcome one of Europe’s most feared opponents to keep their hopes alive.
Guardiola’s men looked set for disaster when Raphael Onyedika’s first-half strike left them needing two goals to secure a play-off place.
The Etihad crowd was subdued, sensing the gravity of the situation. It was only after an own goal from Joel Ordonez and a late surge that City managed to escape an ignominious early exit.
“We deserve it,” Guardiola admitted post-match. “I don’t know if they are happy to play against us, but it is what it is. No complaints.”
The reality, however, is that City will now have to face either Madrid or Bayern—both of whom have lifted the trophy multiple times.
Madrid, despite a comfortable 3-0 win over Brest with Rodrygo shining, failed to finish in the top eight due to a slow start to their campaign. Now, they must navigate an extra two-legged play-off to defend their title.
Similarly, Bayern’s 3-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava, courtesy of goals from Thomas Müller, Harry Kane, and Kingsley Coman, was not enough to secure automatic qualification. Like Madrid, they now face an uphill battle to progress.
For City, the stakes could not be higher. Guardiola’s squad has struggled with defensive frailties and inconsistency, suffering defeats to Juventus, Sporting, and PSG while squandering a three-goal lead against Feyenoord.
Their current form offers little assurance ahead of a potential showdown with Carlo Ancelotti’s seasoned Madrid or Vincent Kompany’s Bayern.
Should they advance, the challenges will only intensify, with Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen awaiting in the last 16.
City’s season, already under pressure as they trail Liverpool in the Premier League title race, now hinges on a daunting European tie.
Can they summon the resilience to defy their shaky form and eliminate a European giant? The answer will come when the play-offs commence on 11-12 and 18-19 February, with the draw set for Friday, 31 January.
1732012115-0/Untitled-design-(14)1732012115-0-270x192.webp "punjab cm forms 8 member committee for free plot distribution")
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ