The Champions League knockout play-offs and round of 16 draw were simulated – and Manchester City have been handed a tough tie.
Pep Guardiola’s side survived a scare on Wednesday, with a 3-1 win against Club Brugge securing them a play-off spot.
While their fellow English sides – Liverpool and Arsenal – progressed automatically to the round of 16 stage.
But how could this morning’s Champions League play-off draw play out?
Well, before they can start planning for the last 16, City will need to overcome either Bayern Munich or current Champions League holders Real Madrid.
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Both will provide a tough test for the Premier League champions, when the play-offs commence on February 11/12. The reverse fixtures are set to take place a week later.
The draw for the round of 16 will not take place until Friday 21 February.
Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Aston Villa are all guaranteed a spot in the last 16.
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While Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, PSV, PSG, Benfica, Monaco, Brest, Feyenoord, Juventus, Celtic, Manchester City, Sporting CP and Club Brugge will take part in the play-off.
Teams who finished between ninth and 16th will be seeded to play their second leg of the play-off at their home stadium. Clubs can face teams from the same nation and those who they have previously played.
Anyway, hopefully you have a clearer picture of how this year’s tournament works.
Fans are interested to see who their teams will play in the coming rounds with The Sun running a simulation of every team’s possible route to the final.
Simulated Champions League draw
In the simulated play-off City were drawn against Bayern Munich.
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Guardiola’s side could then face Atletico in the last 16, Arsenal/AC Milan/Juventus in the last eight before a semi-final against Aston Villa/Dortmund/Brugge/Monaco/Benfica/Barcelona.
As previously mentioned, the round of 16 draw is on February 21.
But the simulation also predicted who the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal could face in the knockout stages.
Arsenal were drawn against Juve or AC Milan in the round of 16, with a win setting up a quarter-final against City/Bayern/Atletico before a semi-final against Aston Villa/Dortmund/Brugge/Monaco/Benfica/Barcelona.
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Liverpool face Brest/PSG in the round of 16, and Sporting/Atalanta/Lille in the last eight before a semi-final against Celtic/Real Madrid/Leverkusen/Feyenoord/Inter Milan/PSV.
In short, according to the simulation Arsenal will not face Liverpool until the final which takes place in Munich, Germany on Saturday 31 May.
Topics: Champions League, Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich
Luke Davies