The Manchester City faithful were left on the edge of their seats on Wednesday night as the first Champions League stage came to a dramatic close.
The Blues went into the match against Galatasaray outside the top eight teams that would automatically qualify for the last 16, and needed a win, and result elsewhere to go their way in order to avoid a two-legged play-off for the second year running.
They faced a tough test in the shape of Turkish side Galatasaray, who have continually thwarted English sides in European competition for the last twenty years. It was the first ever meeting between the two sides and the visitors boasted former Blues Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane in the starting 11, but it was the Blues who took the game by the scruff of the neck.
Erling Haaland looked like continuing his barren run, heading wide when unmarked, but he finally ended the streak in the 10th minute. Jeremy Doku’s perfect pass released the striker and the Erl’s chipped finish put the Blues in front.
City pressed for a second and when it came, it was Doku who was again the architect. Released down the left, the Belgian raced into the penalty area and found Rayan Cherki, who fired past the keeper to make it 2-0.
By half-time, City were at the lofty heights of fourth in the Champions League table, but the second half would prove a nervy affair for the faithful.
Whilst the Blues held on for a 2-0 victory, with the scoreline preserved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, who saved well with a combination of hand and face, but it was results elsewhere that were starting to be a concern.
With Chelsea, Sporting and Spurs all failing to lead, City’s automatic place looked assured. But it slowly turned and, as all three teams took the lead, it became a two-horse race between the Blues and Real Madrid, who were 3-2 down at Benfica.
City were clinging onto eighth place, but a goal for Real at the Estadio da Luz would put them into the playoffs at City’s expense. As final whistles blew across Europe, the only match that was still playing was at Benfica, where six minutes of injury time became ten.
Benfica, needing another goal to avoid elimination, sent everyone forward for a last-minute free kick, including goalkeeper Anatoily Trubin. And the keeper became Benfica’s, and City’s hero as he powered a header beyond the keeper to give the Portuguese side a 4-2, sending them into the play-offs and City into the last 16.
The Blues can now relax, knowing they have avoided two more matches in an already busy schedule that could see them reach the League Cup final next week, with a visit from Newcastle sandwiched in between trips to Spurs and Liverpool.
**Final Score: Manchester City 2-0 Galatasaray**