Champions League first round predicted as Man City route to final mapped out

Manchester City are set for their first Champions League game of the season later this month, as Pep Guardiola’s men prepare to host Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City are set to get their Champions League campaign underway later this month. In a repeat of the 2023 final, Pep Guardiola’s side host Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium first up on September 18.

As part of the new Champions League format, City will play eight matches throughout the 36-team league phase, with four fixtures at home and four away. The aim is to finish in the top eight. Reach that point and there is a safe passage to the last 16. However, if City come between ninth and 24th in the league phase, they will face a two-legged play-off to get into the final bracket. After that, the quarter-final stage and beyond remain the same though only draws are needed following the initial fixture selections.

After the Champions League draw was confirmed last Thursday, City will take on Inter, Sparta Prague, Feyenoord and Club Brugge at home, as well as face away matches against Slovan Bratislava, Sporting CP, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain. Although there are some tough fixtures in there, it could have been so much worse and City will no doubt fancy their chances of finishing in the top eight and qualifying for the last 16. As City will play two extra fixtures at this stage, the league phase will not finish until January.