Manchester City beat Galatasaray 2-0 on Wednesday night to secure a straight passage into the Champions League last-16, and their route to the final is now a little clearer
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, speaks to the media in a post match press conference after the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Manchester City and Galatasaray
Pep Guardiola watched his Manchester City side beat Galatasaray 2-0 on Wednesday
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Manchester City's comfortable 2-0 win over Galatasaray at the Etihad proved just enough for Pep Guardiola's side to secure a top eight spot in the Champions League first phase and book a straight passage to the last-16.
The Blues have avoided the play-off round, and two extra fixtures in an already crowded calendar, and will be back in European action in March. City now know the four possible opponents they will face, a number that will be reduced to two when the play-off draw takes place on Friday.
Old adversaries Real Madrid, who City beat to a top eight spot on Wednesday, are a potential opponent. Bodo/Glimt, who defeated City last week, Jose Mourinho's Benfica and last season's runners-up Inter Milan complete the quartet.
Those four clubs will be drawn into two ties on Friday, and the last-16 draw on February 27 will confirm which of the two sides who progress will face City. The Blues, courtesy of their top eight finish, will have the second leg at home.
And, with the League Phase now complete, it is possible to plot a path for City from the last-16 all the way to the final in Budapest.
Madrid or Inter would likely pose the stiffer test in last-16 but City know first hand how dangerous Bodo/Glimt are and Benfica proved on Wednesday they can compete. Should the Blues emerge victorious, they will face a quarter-final against either Arsenal or Bayern Munich.
The Gunners won all eight of their league phase fixtures and are also competing with City across the three domestic competitions. Bayern, managed by City great Vincent Kompany, finished second in the league phase. The Blues would host the first leg of a potential quarter-final and be on the road for the return.
Should City come through that tie, there is a number of possible semi-final opponents. Liverpool, third in the league phase, would be the opponent based on league phase seeding, while fellow Premier League clubs Chelsea and Tottenham are in that section, as are Barcelona. Those four are assured of last-16 spots while holders PSG could emerge from the play-offs.
If Guardiola's side reach the final on May 30, it could be a date with whichever of Arsenal or Bayern they avoided in the last eight, although the possibilities for a final opponent are almost limitless at this stage.
Possible City run to Champions League glory
Last-16: Real Madrid
Quarter-finals: Bayern Munich
Semi-finals: Barcelona
Final: Arsenal