Man City Survive Scare, Advance to Face Real Madrid or Bayern in Champions League

Manchester City narrowly avoided a shocking exit from the Champions League and are now set to face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the next round. Get the full match recap and analysis.

Manchester City’s Champions League campaign nearly mirrored the merchandise stand that caught fire outside Etihad Stadium before kick-off. However, a strong performance on the pitch ensured they narrowly advanced to the play-offs.

City manager Pep Guardiola even felt the negative vibes, commenting: “When I saw the fire before the game, I thought ‘the journalists already have their headlines ready’.”

Fortunately, no injuries occurred during the pre-match drama. City successfully navigated through a tense and nerve-wracking night, once again showing some of the vulnerability that has been a hallmark of their season.

Next up, it’s either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich – a prospect that could send chills down the spine of even the most devoted City supporter.

The fact that City finished 22nd in the new Champions League opening phase, despite Wednesday’s 3-1 win against Club Brugge, should be an embarrassment for a club with such high ambitions and as recent winners of this tournament in 2023.

For a brief moment, it seemed as though things might take a turn for the worse, with Guardiola’s team facing the embarrassment of potentially not even qualifying for the playoffs.

Except for one noisy corner filled with Brugge fans, you could have heard a pin drop when Raphael Onyedika’s low drive just before halftime left City needing two goals to secure the win they needed.

At the beginning of the campaign, securing a play-off spot would have been seen as an unexpected consolation. As even that prospect started slipping away, the sense of crisis this season intensified.

City displayed defensive vulnerabilities, particularly on the flanks, and lacked sharpness in their attack. This match marked only the second occasion under Guardiola’s management where his team failed to register a first-half shot on target; the previous instance occurred against Borussia Dortmund in September 2022.

The home fans in the stadium were quiet. The city’s team had provided no reassurance to alleviate their increasing worries.

Guardiola experienced intense frustration in his technical area, often holding his head in despair as City faced counterattacks. At one point, he even kicked a drinks box in exasperation but later chuckled about it, recalling fond memories of his illustrious playing career at Barcelona.

In the broader scheme, this was a crucial season for City. Their European aspirations were at risk as they trailed 12 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, weakening their grip on the championship title.

City deserves credit for their response, aided by Guardiola’s astute decision to substitute Savinho with Ilkay Gundogan at half-time. This strategic move ensured that the manager maintained his record of always reaching the knockout stage in his illustrious career.

Had City been eliminated, it would have broken their streak of reaching the knockout stage for 11 consecutive seasons. Such an outcome would have dealt a significant blow to the pride and status of a club that values its position among Europe’s elite teams.

City managed to avoid what could have been their biggest embarrassment under Guardiola. However, given their current form, facing either Real or Bayern in a play-off to reach the last 16 is not something they can approach with confidence.

Brugge’s threat was finally extinguished when the unfortunate Joel Ordonez accidentally redirected Josko Gvardiol’s cross into his own net, giving City the lead. As a result, Brugge supporters found reason to celebrate at the final whistle; their team managed to sneak into the playoffs in 24th place.

The home team ultimately succeeded, but this campaign has not given any indication that either Madrid’s experienced manager Carlo Ancelotti or Bayern Munich’s coach and former City legend, Vincent Kompany, should have anything to worry about.

“We deserve it,” Guardiola commented on City’s play-off situation. “I’m not sure if they’re pleased to compete against us, but that’s how it stands—no complaints from our side. We’ll be up against them; one is the king of this competition and the other ranks second or third.”

The losses City experienced against Juventus, Sporting, and Paris St-Germain, coupled with their collapse to end in a draw after leading 3-0 against Feyenoord with only 16 minutes remaining, will provide all the motivation needed for their upcoming opponents.

And even if these significant challenges are surmounted, City will then confront Diego Simeone’s tenacious Atletico Madrid or Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16.

BBC