City Advances in Champions League Amid Benfica’s Dramatic Comeback

omidbasir- Manchester City has successfully advanced to the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League following a commendable top-eight finish in the league phase. In an impressive turn of events, Benfica is also preparing for the knockout play-offs after managing to secure a position among the top 24 teams.

In a thrilling match at Estadio da Luz, José Mourinho’s squad appeared to be on the brink of elimination against La Liga giants Real Madrid. However, a dramatic 98th-minute goal by Benfica’s goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin, turned the tide, much to the delight of supporters in both Lisbon and Manchester. This remarkable goal not only allowed Benfica to leapfrog Marseille but also thwarted any potential Madrid resurgence that could have jeopardized City’s top-eight status.

Pep Guardiola, who oversaw a convincing 2-0 victory against Galatasaray from a distance, acknowledged the tense atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium prior to the last-minute goal that saved Benfica’s European aspirations. He remarked, “We were all there, so we weren’t aware that Benfica needed a goal to qualify. When the goalkeeper went up, we thought, ‘Why are you going?’ because Madrid could equalize and we could be out. But it was a clever strategy for José to score that fourth goal, wasn’t it?”

Following City’s successful qualification that alleviates the need for a two-legged play-off amidst a congested schedule, Guardiola humorously noted that he might send a thank-you note to Mourinho.

Despite the positive atmosphere surrounding the team after another successful night in Europe, City faced an unfortunate setback with winger Jeremy Doku suffering a calf injury against Galatasaray. The team has already navigated a defensive injury crisis this season and has bolstered their roster in the January transfer window with new signings Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi.

Guardiola expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress as they continue their pursuit of a continental title alongside their domestic campaigns in the Premier League, Carabao Cup, and FA Cup. He stated, “I am really pleased to finish in the top eight considering the current competitiveness of the Champions League. When I began 16 or 17 years ago, the tournament was quite different. Today, every team poses a real challenge. I’m glad we won’t have to play in the playoff stage and I hope we can arrive in March for the last-16 matches at our best.”

City’s Erling Haaland, who had a five-game goal drought, and Rayan Cherki both found the net against Galatasaray. Cherki, prior to the confirmation of City’s automatic qualification for the last-16, expressed pride in their victory against a formidable opponent, stating, “We are really proud because Galatasaray is a very good team. We had a good game, and winning was very important for us. Now we await the results.”

He also praised Guardiola’s tactical flexibility, noting, “All the players appreciate when the manager implements this system because we have a wealth of talent, and it’s advantageous for us.”

As City continues to strive for excellence, they are set to face a demanding schedule. Their next Premier League match is against Tottenham, a venue that has posed challenges for Guardiola in the past. Following that, they will compete against Newcastle in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, leading 2-0 on aggregate, before heading to Anfield for a crucial encounter with Liverpool.