MANCHESTER CITY face a daunting prospect in the last-16 of the Champions League if Monday’s draw throws up one of the unseeded giants.
Five teams can be drawn against Pep Guardiola’s side with those from the same country and group rivals Atalanta ruled out.
That means a match-up with one of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon or Napoli.
Each of those sides finished second in the group and are unseeded for the draw, at 11am on Monday, while City cruised to top theirs.
The Premier League holders have struggled to match their ambition in Europe recently, achieving a best-ever run to the semi-finals in 2015/16.
Real Madrid were the opponents on that occasion and ran out 1-0 winners after a tight 180 minutes.
Potential opponents Lyon, who snatched their place in the last-16 when coming back from two goals down to draw versus RB Leipzig on Tuesday, also have a good record versus City.
Two group games last season saw the French side win 2-1 in Manchester before claiming a draw in Lyon.
Roberto Mancini was manager on the only occasion Borussia Dortmund came to Eastlands, the Germans drawing 1-1 before a narrow win in the return game as City finished bottom of the 2012/13 group stage.
That campaign also featured a last-minute comeback loss at Real and 1-1 draw with Los Blancos at the Etihad.
Fans may be fearing every single name in the hat for the last-16 has got one over their team but Atletico Madrid have never played City.
And Napoli were beaten twice in the group stage two seasons ago, having claimed four points off the Manchester side in the 2011/12 first round.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
