Manchester City know victory against Galatasaray on Wednesday will all-but certainly move them into the top eight and secure automatic qualification for the Champions League round of 16.
Pep Guardiola is a regular critic of the hectic schedule in the modern game and will be eager to avoid a further two games in the play-offs in February.
City’s 3-1 defeat at Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday,was an unexpected setback, although they won 2-0 at home to Wolves on Saturday.
Galatasaray are top of the Turkish Super League but have not found the going as easy in Europe. They start the final match round in 17th and, bar a freakish set of results, will finish in the top 24 spots that guarantees a play-off spot.
Man City team news vs Galatasaray
City have issues in defence with Ruben Dias, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol all sidelined. New signing Marc Guehi is ineligible, as is winger Antoine Semenyo, while Rodri is suspended.
Manchester City starting XI:
Man City substitutes: To follow
Galatasaray team news vs Manchester City
Metehan Baltacı is banned for Gala while Enes Buyuk and Arda Unyay are injured.
Galatasaray starting XI:
Galatasaray substitutes:
How to watch Manchester City vs Galatasaray: TV and online streams
Man City versus Galatasaray kicks off at 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT) on Wednesday. In the UK, the match is on TNT Sports 6and can be streamed via the Discovery Plus app.
To watch elsewhere in the world, click HERE to find your local rights holder.
Man City vs Galatasaray stats
- This will be the first meeting between Manchester City and Galatasaray, as well as Pep Guardiola’s first ever game against the Turkish side
- Manchester City’s only previous meetings against a Turkish side came against Fenerbahce 57 years ago in the 1968-69 European Cup
- Galatasaray have not lost any of their last three meetings with English teams
When is the Champions League knockout phase?
Knockout phase play-offs: February 17/18 & 24/25 2026
Round of 16: March 10/11 & 17/18 2026
Quarter-finals: April 7/8 & 14/15 2026
Semi-finals: April 28/29 and May 5/6 2026
Final: May 30 2026 (Budapest)
When are the Champions League draws?
Knockout phase play-offs: January 30 2026
Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final: February 27 2026
Champions League 2025/26 format
In a change from the previous group stage format conducted until 2023/24, each team now plays eight matches in the league phase, all against different opponents.
Four of those matches will be at home and four away, with the opponents determined according to four seeding pots split by rankings.
Teams will play two opponents from each of those pots – one against a team from each pot at home and one away. The results decide the overall standings in one league.
The top eight sides in the table qualify automatically for the round of 16. The teams finishing in ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout phase play-off to reach the last 16.
Teams finishing 25th or lower are out of Europe for the season.
English teams in the Champions League: Why are there six clubs?
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle all qualified as the top five teams in the Premier League.
There were five places for English teams because extra positions are awarded according to Uefa’s co-efficient rankings, which are based on the overall performances of nations across European competition over a season.
Spurs qualified as Europa League champions, despite losing 22 and winning only 11 of their 2024/25 league games and finishing 17th.
When is the Champions League final?
The final will take place on May 30 2026 at the The Puskas Arena in Budapest, which opened in 2019 and is home to Hungary’s national team.
The arena hosted a dramatic 2022/23 Europa League final, when Sevilla beat Roma on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Man City Champions League squad 2025/26
City’s List A Champions League squad has been registered until the round of 16 in February 2026, when clubs can register a maximum of three new players within the existing limit of 25.
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, James Trafford, Stefan Ortega Moreno, Marcus Bettinelli
Defenders: Matheus Nunes, John Stones, Abdukodir Khusanov, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, Rayan Ait-Nouri
Midfielders: Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, Nico, Tijjani Reijnders, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki
Forwards: Savinho, Jeremy Doku, Oscar Bobb, Omar Marmoush, Erling Haaland
List B submissions, comprised of players born after January 1, 2004 who have been eligible to play for the club for an uninterrupted period of two years since their 15th birthday, can also be made until midnight before each match.
Defender Rico Lewis and left-back or midfielder Nico O’Reilly are initially on List B.