The block phase of the Champions League has been completed. Manchester City redeemed a place in the sun, but Aston Villa already secured the quarter -finals.
13: 02 • Updated 13:23
The block phase of the Football Champions League ended late Wednesday night. The top eight teams in the league phase made their way straight into the top 16, quarter -finals.
In addition to the winning Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter, Athletico Madrid, Lukas Hradecky Leverkusen, Lille and Aston Villa.
Sixth in the group stage, Leverkusen will face either Madrid, Bayern Munich or Manchester City in the quarter -finals.
The top eight teams in the group phase will be able to flute when in the group stage in the 9-24. Team teams play in the first round of the playoffs in the top 16.
The match pairs for the playoffs will be drawn on Friday. The opening round features, among others, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, PSG, Juventus and the last one in Manchester City.
The winners of the match pairs will advance to the quarter -finals in March. The first round of playoffs will be played in February. The playoffs are two -piece.
Man City’s next resistor of Bayern or Real Madrid
Manchester City secured its place in the first phase of the playoffs only in the final round of the group phase, when the Manchester team rose to a 3-1 win over the club in the second half.
Half time at City’s head coach Pep Guardiola gave an inspirational speech that raised the team forced to win.
– I said it was the end for us, the Spanish pilot revealed.
– We were already on the edge of the gap. This is a good lesson for us.
City ended up in 22nd place in the league standings. The team’s balance of eight matches was three wins, two draws and three losses. The Club Brugge also survived in 24th place.
However, Guardiola does not see City to win the Champions League this year. The team conquered the Champions League in 2023 under Guardiola.
– It’s a good thing to be in the future. However, I am so realistic that right now I don’t think we will win the championship.
In the opening round of the playoffs, Man City will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
– Real is on the track again and Bayern has so far played an incredible season Vinny Kompany under the subject.
Although Guardiola does not believe in the championship, he believes that City has the opportunity to advance to the top 16. City’s grouping may be strengthened over the next few weeks as the key players are recovering in the game (Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir khusanov and Vitor thigh).
– If we met Real or Bayern tomorrow, it would be difficult, but in a couple of weeks the situation may be different. We are going to prepare carefully and try our best. I’m pretty sure we can cause problems for Bayern or Real.
Although City’s plane has been severely coughing this season in the Premiership and Champions League, team performances have recently improved. The last eight games have resulted in six wins and one draw.
– At least we’ve got a profit lately. We are still fighting in the FA Cup and in the Premier League we are fourth. We no longer fight for the Premiership Championship, but we are fourth.