Manchester City will take on Manchester United at Old Trafford after playing their first Champions League game of the season
Manchester City have been handed one of their toughest Champions League games in the week of the Manchester derby – but will get more recovery than Manchester United. The Blues will head to Porto on the Tuesday before they are at Old Trafford on the Sunday, with United playing on the Thursday.
Enzo Maresca’s side have made a positive start in the Premier League, coming from behind to beat Bournemouth at home and then thrashing Crystal Palace on Friday night. With Coventry at the Etihad next Saturday, there is a good chance that City head to Old Trafford on September 13 with a 100 per cent record to defend in the league.
However, that week marks the start of a more congested fixture list as the Champions League starts up followed by the Carabao Cup a week later. There is only one European tie before the three-week international break at the end of September, and the Blues will travel away to Porto before United host Sabah a few days later.
City have been given statistically one of the hardest draws out of the 36 teams involved in the first phase of the Champions League, with home games against PSG, Sporting, Napoli and AEK Athens and trips to Barcelona, Porto, Leipzig and Lens.
The trip to Camp Nou will bring the Blues face to face with Rodri again following his summer move, while Josko Gvardiol (Leipzig) and Abdukodir Khusanov (Lens) will travel back to their former clubs.
The first six games will be played before Christmas before the final two are completed in January, with a top-eight spot guaranteeing a place in the last-16 and an extra 16 places offering a play-off to make it. City finished in the top-eight last year but lost to Real Madrid in the first knockout stage.
Times and dates of Man City’s Champions League fixtures
Tuesday 8th September, 8pm – Porto vs Manchester City
Wednesday 14th October, 8pm – Manchester City vs PSG
Tuesday 20th October, 8pm – Manchester City vs AEK Athens
Wednesday 4th November, 8pm – RB Leipzig vs Manchester City
Tuesday 24th November, 8pm – Manchester City vs Napoli
Tuesday 8th December, 8pm – Barcelona vs Manchester City
Wednesday 20th January, 8pm – RC Lens vs Manchester City
Wednesday 27th January, 8pm – Manchester City vs Sporting CP
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