Who could Man City face in the 2022/23 Champions League knockout stages?
By Euan Burns
Manchester City made fairly light work of their Champions League group this season and have gone through to the round of 16 as group winners.
The Premier League side had to contend with Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and FC Copenhagen. It had the potential to be a tricky group but Sevilla's poor start to the season under Julen Lopetegui meant it became clear finishing in the top two wouldn't be an issue.
Borussia Dortmund were the team who came through with Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side managed 14 points, with Dortmund earning nine.
Manchester City 2022/23 Champions League so far
Man City got underway with a superb 4-0 win away at Sevilla which quickly showed Guardiola was not going to let his side get dragged into a scrap for qualification. Having a game or two to rest players later down the line would have been the aim for City and they started like it.
City then welcomed Dortmund to the Etihad for what proved to be a very tense affair. The Bundesliga side were leading through Jude Bellingham with 10 minutes to go, but goals from John Stones and Erling Haaland meant City took the points and control of the group.
An easy 5-0 win at home to FC Copenhagen followed but the trip to the Danish capital proved more tricky as it ended 0-0. The result still saw City get into the next round though with two games to spare.
Top spot in the group was clinched on Matchday 5 with a 0-0 draw at the Westfalenstadion against Dortmund and the group was rounded off with a 3-1 home win over Sevilla.
Haaland, as expected, was among the top scorers in the group stage as he netted five times. Beyond him though, it was not a goal-laden group stage for City as the next highest scorer was Julian Alvarez with two. With 14 overall, City were the third-lowest scoring group winners - only Tottenham and Chelsea scored fewer.
Manchester City 2022/23 Champions League last 16 potential opponents
There are six potential opponents for City to face in the round of 16 draw which takes place on Monday 7 November at 11:00 GMT. They are the following:
- Inter
- Club Brugge
- Eintracht Frankfurt
- AC Milan
- RB Leipzig
- PSG
One of those teams clearly stands out more than the rest and it is PSG. The French side are among the favourites to win the whole tournament but they did not manage to top their group.
That is the draw to avoid for City, although Guardiola and his players will certainly back themselves to beat whoever is put in front of them. Both of the Milan sides will pose a very tough test for City, while RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt are definitely favourable but tough ties.
Club Brugge is the opponent most fans will want to face, although the Belgian champions were very impressive in the group stage as they almost topped a group with Porto, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen.
After being dumped out in the semi-finals last season by Real Madrid in dramatic fashion, City will not want any dramas in the round of 16.