Man City facing nightmare Champions League draw ahead of Arsenal Carabao Cup final | OneFootball

Man City will learn their fate later this month

Manchester City could face a tricky Champions League decider just days before the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.

Man City booked their place at the Wembley showpiece on March 22 after overcoming Newcastle 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-final, while the Gunners were victorious against London rivals Chelsea.

Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki made sure City lived up to their end of the bargain, helping them to leapfrog Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle in the table to seal a top eight finish.

Who will Man City face in Champions League last 16?

Man City’s progression straight through to the last 16 means they have avoided a repeat of last season’s fixture congestion in February, giving them a full week’s rest for Premier League games against Newcastle and Leeds.

The last-16 draw will take place on Friday, February 27. The first leg of those ties will be played on either March 10 or March 11, with the return fixtures a week later.

As a result of finishing eighth in the league phase, Man City will either face the winners of the knockout phase play-off between the ninth and tenth seeds, or the 23rd and 24th seeds.

Man City finished eighth in the league phase

AFP via Getty Images

Potential opponents

Real Madrid

Inter Milan

Bodo/Glimt

Benfica

The knockout round path has become slightly clearer following the play-off draw with the silver and blue pathways now being partially filled.

If Man City are drawn onto the silver path, they will face the winners of the Benfica vs Real Madrid tie.

Should Real Madrid progress to set up a tenth meeting between the two sides since the 2021-22 season, then Man City will host the second leg at the Etihad Stadium a few days before the Carabao Cup final.