Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola expects a 'complicated' Champions League draw with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in mix for last-16

  • Raheem Sterling secured a 1-0 win over Feyenoord for Manchester City
  • Pep Guardiola's side have finished top of their Champions League group
  • City could face Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the last-16 as things stand 
  • Guardiola said City face a tough task regardless of who they are drawn against

Pep Guardiola has insisted he is anticipating a difficult task in the Champions League last-16 regardless of who Manchester City are drawn against.

City ensured they would finish top of group F with a 1-0 win over Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, courtesy of Raheem Sterling's 88th-minute strike. 

The three points earned Guardiola's City a six-point lead over second-place Shakhtar Donetsk, but finishing first could see City potentially face Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the next round, with the draw for the knockout stages to be held on December 11.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have finished top of their Champions League group

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have finished top of their Champions League group

Raheem Sterling lifted the ball over the Feyenoord goalkeeper to secure a late win on Tuesday

Raheem Sterling lifted the ball over the Feyenoord goalkeeper to secure a late win on Tuesday

In spite of this, Guardiola claimed City are focused on winning their final group match against Shakhtar.


'We play to win the games and after that we will see how things finish,' Guardiola said.

'We have one game left. It is important that City have got 15 points at this stage for the first time and we are going to go now to Shakhtar to try to finish well and to try to go and win the game.

'In the last-16, it doesn't matter which one (you get), it always will be complicated.'

Guardiola refused to get ahead of himself and insisted City are focused on winning each game

Guardiola refused to get ahead of himself and insisted City are focused on winning each game

City are through to the Champions League last-16 after romping home in their group 

City are through to the Champions League last-16 after romping home in their group 

The victory at the Etihad extended City's winning streak to 17 matches in all competitions but will be without Kevin De Bruyne for their trip to Shakhtar in a fortnight through suspension.

With City one of two English sides - alongside Tottenham - to have qualified for the next phase so far, Guardiola refused to get ahead of himself. 

'We have now qualified from the Champions League group stages, playing the game the way that we know can play,' he added.

'We are taking it step by step but we are confident that we can challenge the other teams.'

Real Madrid are one of the European giants struggling in this year's competition

Real Madrid are one of the European giants struggling in this year's competition

Bayern Munich are also likely to finish only as runners-up to PSG in their group

Bayern Munich are also likely to finish only as runners-up to PSG in their group