Manchester City face a Champions League play-off against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich next month with their knockout route to the latter stages emerging ahead of Friday's draw.
The Blues came from behind to beat Club Brugges 3-1 at the Etihad on Wednesday night, which was enough to lift them into the top 24 as they finished 22nd in the League Phase table. That means City will be unseeded in Friday's draw and with UEFA having already somewhat mapped out the competition, Pep Guardiola's side know they will face either Madrid or Bayern in a seismic showdown in February.
City are paired with Celtic for the play-off draw on Friday lunchtime and one of those British clubs will face Bayern and the other Real. And we can look further ahead with the draw opening up now the league phase is complete.
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Should City progress through the play off they will face Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16. That opponent will be confirmed on Friday.
If City reach the last eight they would be scheduled to meet either Premier League rivals Arsenal or Serie A giants Inter Milan in what would be a repeat of the 2023 final. AC Milan, now the home of Kyle Walker, Juventus, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord would also be potential quarter final opponents.
City cannot face Liverpool or Barcelona until the semi-finals with those two clubs on the other side of the draw. Aston Villa and Lille are also out of reach until the last four while the likes of PSG and Sporting Lisbon - two teams who beat City in the league phase - cannot meet the Blues again until the semi-finals.
