UEFA Champions League 2024-25: How can Manchester City qualify for the next round?
UEFA Champions League 2024-25: How can Manchester City qualify for the next round?
Manchester City hosts Club Brugge in a must-win match in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 season as Pep Guardiola’s side hopes to remain in the competition.
As per the new format of the continental tournament, the top eight sides – after the end of the league stage – will get direct qualification to the knockouts. On the other hand, the teams placed between ninth and 24th will play two-legged playoffs to book a place in the Round of 16.
Guardiola’s City finds itself in a precarious situation. It is placed 25th, two points off VfB Stuttgart which is placed 24th.
The Premier League side has won just two out of the seven league stage matches and lost against Sporting Lisbon, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Manchester City, 25th with eight points, faces Club Brugge, which sits in 20th with 11 points. Needless to say, the English side has to ensure all three points on Wednesday night against the Belgian side.
It will depend on the sides placed above the 2023 champion. Germany’s Stuttgart, which leads City by two points, will face PSG (22nd). If the French side comes away with a win, then the result can become favourable for Guardiola and Co.
Amongst other sides which have 11 points on the board ahead of the final matchday are PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, and Sporting.
While Sporting (23rd with 10 points) might find it easy to dispatch lowly Bologna, PSV and Benfica will have tougher opponents in league leader Liverpool and Juventus respectively.
If PSV, Benfica, and Stuttgart lose their matches then with a win, Manchester City can finish in the top 24 to keep itself alive in the UEFA Champions League.
