Manchester City have work to do to make the top eight of the Champions League following the dreadful defeat to Bodo/Glimt
Erling Haaland of Manchester City reacts after the team's defeat in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FK Bodo/Glimt and Manchester City at Aspmyra Stadion
Manchester City need a result against Galatasaray in their final Champions League League Phase gamed to keep alive their top eight hopes(Image: )
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Manchester City must realistically beat Galatasaray in their final Champions League League Phase match to stand any chance of securing a top eight finish.
Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a shock 3-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night which dropped them down the table. City had been looking to secure a top four spot but now face a battle on their hands to avoid a two-legged play-off tie next month.
Those sides who finish in the top eight go straight into the last 16 while those who finish between ninth and 24th face a two-legged play off to join them. City were knocked out by Real Madrid at that stage last season.
And with injuries decimating Guardiola’s squad they will be desperate to avoid two extra matches. City will begin the final matchday of the Champions League in 11th position. Their Turkish opponents are likely to finish in a play off position themselves but still need a positive result to be certain.
There is a scenario where City could draw and move into the top eight but it would require a staggeringly unlikely set of results so three points will likely be required at the Etihad on Wednesday. If the Blues win, they will move up to 16 points and are guaranteed to overtake one or both of PSG and Newcastle, who play each other in Paris.
City need to leapfrog three teams to jump into the top eight so will require 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 will 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.
There are several dangerous potential play off opponents if City are seeded, including Bayer Leverkusen, which beat City at the Etihad earlier in the competition, Kevin De Bruyne’s Napoli and Dortmund. The Blues could even face a rematch against Bodo/Glimt. The play off draw takes place on January 30.
Should City progress through the play, 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