Pep Guardiola faces an anxious wait to discover Man City’s Champions League last-16 opponents
Man City booked their place at the Wembley showpiece on March 22 after overcoming Newcastle 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-final, while the Gunners were victorious against London rivals Chelsea.
The two finalists are both on course for an unprecedented quadruple as they’re locked in a battle for the Premier League title, into the fifth round of the FA Cup and the Champions League last 16.
Man City left it until the final matchday of the league phase to confirm a place in the last 16 as surprise defeats to Bayer Leverkusen and Bodo/Glimt left Pep Guardiola’s side needing to beat Galatasaray and results elsewhere going in their favour.
Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki made sure City lived up to their end of the bargain, helping them to leapfrog Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle in the table to seal a top eight finish.
Man City’s progression straight through to the last 16 means they have avoided a repeat of last season’s fixture congestion in February, giving them a full week’s rest for Premier League games against Newcastle and Leeds.
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The last-16 draw will take place on Friday, February 27. The first leg of those ties will be played on either March 10 or March 11, with the return fixtures a week later.
As a result of finishing eighth in the league phase, Man City will either face the winners of the knockout phase play-off between the ninth and tenth seeds, or the 23rd and 24th seeds.
Real Madrid
Inter Milan
Bodo/Glimt
Benfica
The knockout round path has become slightly clearer following the play-off draw with the silver and blue pathways now being partially filled.
If Man City are drawn onto the silver path, they will face the winners of the Benfica vs Real Madrid tie.
Should Real Madrid progress to set up a tenth meeting between the two sides since the 2021-22 season, then Man City will host the second leg at the Etihad Stadium a few days before the Carabao Cup final.