The new Champions League format looks like it will make an already gruelling season even tougher this season and the placement of Manchester City’s eight fixtures does not help.
Manchester City discovered their eight opponents in the new-look Champions League ‘league phase’ on August 29 and they were handed some very difficult fixtures.
The Champions League will look completely different from the 2024/25 season onwards, with the typical group stage, in which four teams play one another twice to make it to the next round, scrapped.
In its place, all 36 teams in the competition – up from 32 – will be placed in a single league table. But rather than play against every side, each club will have eight fixtures and play their opponents once.
The 36 teams were split into four pots of nine for the draw, with every team playing two clubs from each pot, including the one they were in.
As a result, Pep Guardiola’s side will meet Inter, in a rematch of the 2023 final, and PSG from pot one but were also drawn against Italian giants Juventus, Portuguese champions Sporting and Dutch side Feyenoord.
If the quality of the opponent and extra games weren’t enough, City now know the order of their eight fixtures and when they will come in the season.
It’s safe to say there are going to be some very difficult and tiring weeks ahead.
- Champions League 2024/25: New changes, league phase draw details, who Man City will face, full schedule
Man City Champions League fixtures
The revamped Champions League will see clubs play two additional fixtures in the opening stage, which now won’t conclude until the end of January rather than mid-December.
- Matchday 1: 18 September 2024 vs Inter (H)
- Matchday 2: 1 October 2024 vs Slovan Bratislava (A)
- Matchday 3: 23 October 2024 vs Sparta Prague (H)
- Matchday 4: 5 November 2024 vs Sporting (A)
- Matchday 5: 26 November 2024 vs Feyenoord (H)
- Matchday 6: 11 December 2024 vs Juventus (A)
- Matchday 7: 22 January 2025 vs PSG (A)
- Matchday 8: 29 January 2025 vs Club Brugge (H)
Man City Premier League matches before and after Champions League games
The Champions League fixture dates are set in stone but Premier League games could still be rearranged for broadcasting purposes. Still, City now know where their Champions League fixtures will come in the calendar and which cames they will be sandwiched between.
- Inter (H) September 18 – Brentford (H) September 14. Arsenal (H) September 22.
- Slovan Bratislava (A) October 1 – Newcastle United (A) September 28, Fulham (H) October 5.
- Sparta Prague (H) October 23 – Wolves (A) October 20. Southampton (H) October 26.
- Sporting (A) November 5 – Bournemouth (A) November 2. Brighton (A) November 9.
- Feyenoord (H) November 26 – Tottenham (H) November 23. Liverpool (A) November 30.
- Juventus (A) December 11 – Crystal Palace (A) December 7. Manchester United (H) December 14.
- PSG (A) January 22 – Ipswich (A) January 18. Chelsea (H) January 25.
- Club Brugge (H) January 29 – Chelsea (H) January 25. Arsenal (A) February 1.
Though there are some easier weeks, City will have some very tricky periods in the months to come as they manage the defence of their Premier League title, a European campaign and domestic cup competitions.
Things get off to a tough start straight off the bat with Inter coming to the Etihad in the first game, just four days before the Blues’ first meeting with title rivals Arsenal. However, The Gunners have a trip to Atalanta on the 19th.
The following two European match weeks look reasonably comfortable thanks to City playing two of their weaker opponents but the start of November springs three long away trips to Bournemouth, Sporting and Brighton in succession.
At the end of the month, there will be a gruelling week of fixtures in which City face Tottenham at home and Liverpool away either side of a clash with Feyenoord. Liverpool, at least, play Real Madrid that week.
Things don’t let up in December, though, as a trip to Juventus will come after an away game at bogey side Crystal Palace and before the first Manchester derby of the season.
PSG away is City’s penultimate game and they have a long journey to Ipswich the weekend prior before welcoming Chelsea to the Etihad afterwards.
The final game, at home to Club Brugge, comes the following week after Chelsea and before the reverse fixture with Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side end their league phase campaign away at Girona.
