Man City land horror Champions League playoff tie as Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa learn their next opponents
THE brand new Champions League league phase is over and we now know who will be facing who in the next round.
All four of the English clubs have managed to advance from the first round with Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa booking their place in the last 16 without the need for a play
Liverpool have finished top of the Champions League league phase[/caption]
Arsenal have secured automatic qualification to the last 16 with a top eight finish[/caption]
Aston Villa have snuck into the top eight and guaranteed a place in the last 16 too[/caption]
Manchester City, however, will have a huge challenge as they will face on one of Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in a play-off round in February to try and earn a spot in the last 16 proper.
Pep Guardiola‘s side will learn which of those two teams they face in a draw taking place on January 31.
The Cityzens narrowly squeezed into the play-offs with a 3-1 comeback win over Club Brugge that pushed them into 22nd.
They had looked down and out when trailing 1-0 at half-time, with Pep Guardiola back scratching his head in frustration, but scrambled back to book their spot.
However, a poor league phase has now led to a nightmare draw.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Villa will all have to wait to find out who advances to the last 16 from the play-off round to discover their opponents for their clashes.
But until then, the final league table allows us to look at the four potential opponents each side would face.
Arsenal’s 3rd placed finish means they will face one of AC Milan, Juventus, PSV or Feyenoord in a tricky tie.
Manchester City pulled off a comeback win to squeeze into the play-offs[/caption]
City’s shocking form in the league phase means they could face Real Madrid in the knockouts[/caption]
If they avoid Real Madrid then City will face Harry Kane and Bayern Munich[/caption]
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The Gunners beat Girona 2-1 in Spain to earn their third placed spot on a night where youngster Ethan Nwaneri shone once again and loanee keeper Neto had a nightmare debut.
Liverpool lost their first game of the competition in a 3-2 defeat to PSV that saw 18-year-old Amara Nallo sent off just four minutes after being subbed on.
But regardless of their defeat, the Reds still topped the table and their first placed finish hasn’t done them any huge favours as they could still take on PSG, Benfica, AS Monaco or Brest in the last 16.
For Villa, they snuck into the top eight by the skin of their teeth in 8th place after an enthralling 4-2 victory over Celtic at Villa Park.
Their lower finish means they will face higher-seeded sides, and in this instance that will be one of Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge.
Man City know their route too, which means if they do advance past Bayern or Real Madrid in the play-offs, then they will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
The overly complicated format, also known as the Swiss model, has thrown up some other potential heavyweight clashes across the competition.
Scottish giants Celtic will face whoever of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich isn’t drawn to face Man City in a horror tie.
While there’s potential last derby 16 ties between Inter Milan and AC Milan as well as Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic will face one of Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the play-offs[/caption]
Who faces who?
Here’s a look at the ties across the competition…
Play-off round
Atlanta vs Sporting Lisbon/Club Brugge
Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting Lisbon/Club Brugge
Real Madrid vs Celtic/Man City
Bayern Munich vs Celtic/Man City
AC Milan vs Feyenoord/Juventus
PSV vs Feyenoord/Juventus
PSG vs AS Monaco/Brest
Benfica vs AS Monaco/Brest
Feyenoord vs AC Milan/PSV
Juventus vs AC Milan/PSV
Celtic vs Bayern Munich/Real Madrid
Manchester City vs Bayern Munich/Real Madrid
Sporting Lisbon vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund
Club Brugge vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund
Last 16
Liverpool vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/Brest
Barcelona vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/Brest
Arsenal vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/Juventus
Inter Milan vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/Juventus
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man City
Bayer Leverkusen vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man City
Lille vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club Brugge
Aston Villa vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club Brugge
