Man City will face one of two European heavyweights in nightmare play-off as Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa learn their route through Champions League knockout stages
Man City will face one of two European heavyweights in nightmare play-off as Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa learn their route through Champions League knockout stages
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Manchester City's reward for scraping into the next stage of the Champions League is a clash against European heavyweights Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. Pep Guardiola's side earned a 3-1 victory over Belgian side Club Brugge at the Etihad on Wednesday night, though the final result failed to paint an accurate reflection of the tensioned-filled encounter.
![[The Premier League giants mounted a spirited second-half comeback against the Belgians]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/29/23/94660169-14339971-image-a-2_1738193311348.jpg)
City trailed at the break knowing only a victory would prolong their European adventure. But the 2023 champions produced a performance that has been sorely lacking this term and responded with goals from Mateo Kovacic, Savinho and an own goal by Joel Ordonez.
![[City will found out whether they will face Real Madrid or Bayern Munich at the draw on Friday]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/29/23/94660221-14339971-image-a-3_1738193315564.jpg)
The Manchester club's treacherous passage to the play-off round best exemplified the appeal of the revamped Champions League and their next opponents further highlight the upside of the format. City will need to get past Madrid, who dumped them out of the competition 12 months ago on their path to a 15th triumph or German giants Bayern to join fellow Premier League sides Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa in the last 16.
![[The new Champions League format allows team to plot their course all the way to the final in Munich]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/29/23/94660927-14339971-The_new_Champions_League_format_allows_team_to_plot_their_course-a-26_1738195114794.jpg)
Their opponent will be confirmed when the draw for the next stage of the competition takes place on January 31. Man City scrapped into the next round of the Champions League after beating Club Bruges 3-1. The Premier League giants mounted a spirited second-half comeback against the Belgians.
![[Liverpool topped the League Phase despite losing their final match to PSV and they could face French champions PSG in the next round]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/29/23/94660263-14339971-image-a-4_1738193327429.jpg)
