Manchester City can seal qualification to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages with a victory over Young Boys. The European champions will face the Swiss champions at the Etihad on Tuesday. A win would see City clinch qualification with two games to spare.
As it stands in Group G City are top with 9 points after three wins. RB Leipzig sits second with 6 points and Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys round out the group both on one point. A win for the treble winners could set them up to prioritise the Premier League safe in the knowledge that Champions League qualification is secure.
Clinching qualification from Group G is a priority for Pep Guardiola. Following City’s win over Bournemouth he told the media how important it was. He said: “So important. More than you can imagine. Because we park the car until February and we can focus especially on the Premier League and the other ones. So it’s really, really important, yes. We have to close it on Tuesday, definitely.”
A win over Young Boys at the Etihad would give Pep Guardiola the early qualification he desires. Following the international break after City’s trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, his side faces a busy December. On top of a busy domestic schedule, the European champions will be involved in the FIFA Club World Cup in late December.
With the chance on offer to seal their path to the Champions League knockout stages, it does feel imperative that City take the opportunity on offer. Once that is done Manchester City can then focus on the Premier League until heading to Saudi Arabia for the FIFA Club World Cup. They currently sit top of the league after the weekend’s win over Bournemouth.
