Manchester City secured a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge on Wednesday night, ensuring their place in the Champions League round of 16 playoffs. This result means they will face a formidable challenge against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the next stage of the competition.
The Champions League’s inaugural league phase concluded on Wednesday, with Liverpool finishing at the top of the table despite a 3-2 defeat to PSV Eindhoven. Their position secured automatic qualification for the round of 16. Arsenal and Aston Villa also advanced directly after finishing in the top eight, joining Liverpool in the next phase.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, however, finished 22nd in the league standings, placing them in a playoff to determine their fate. The English champions now face a difficult path, with the possibility of meeting European giants Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. The official draw for the knockout stage playoffs is set for Friday, where City and other Premier League clubs will learn their confirmed opponents.
Liverpool’s first-place finish does not guarantee an easy path forward, as they could be drawn against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16. Other potential opponents for the Reds include Monaco, Brest, or Benfica. Arsenal’s fate remains uncertain, but they could find themselves up against Juventus, Feyenoord, AC Milan, or PSV Eindhoven, depending on how the playoff matchups unfold.
Aston Villa, who secured an eighth-place finish, will face one of Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon, Club Brugge, or Atalanta. The latter secured their place after winning the Europa League last season. Meanwhile, if Manchester City successfully navigates their playoff fixture, they will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16.
Looking further ahead, Manchester City and Arsenal could potentially meet in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Liverpool and Aston Villa are also on course to face each other, though these matchups will not be possible until the semi-finals. With the competition heating up, every team will need to be at their best to advance further in the tournament.
