Champions League Exit Looms For City

MANCHESTER City’s debut Champions League campaign was left in tatters after last night’s defeat at the hands of Napoli in Italy. City lost 2-1 in Naples and manager Roberto Mancini said post-match that the chances of qualifying for the knockout stages was “70 per cent to Napoli, 30 per cent to us.”

City are now forced to rely on no-hopers Villarreal, who foot the group with as many points as Stockport County have got in the Champions League this season, getting something out of the Italians in the final round of fixtures.

“It is unknown if Ferguson will bolster his defense with new utility man Wayne Rooney in a possible sweeper role”

City must also beat a Bayern side that dominated them in Munich, but the Germans have already qualified top of the group, and an obligatory trip to The Etihad stadium midweek is unlikely to incite much inspiration.

The plucky new boys of the competition, fresh from announcing a record annual loss of £195m, have struggled to take their EPL form into Europe’s richest club competition this year. They will now need the kind of fortune money can’t buy if they are to make the final stages.

Meanwhile Manchester United have lined up a winner-takes-all duel with FC Basel in their final game of the group, after a home draw with Benfica.

United were held 2-2 by the Portuguese giants and will need a point in Switzerland, against the side that was just minutes away from taking all three when they came to Old Trafford earlier this year, to go through.

It is unknown if Ferguson will bolster his defense with new utility man Wayne Rooney in a possible sweeper role for the fixture, but don’t expect United to be overly expansive against a team full of attacking enthusiasm – largely thanks to promising youngster Xherdan Shaqiri, and old-boy Alexander Frei.

Rooney has taken to the John O'Shea role naturally this season

The silver-lining for City fans, however, is that with European competition out of the way (and no, the Europa League doesn’t count) their bumper squad will look in tremendous shape to continue to coast through all opposition the EPL has to offer, and will make the favorites for the title, even more odds-on.

The final round of Champions League matches will take place week beginning 5 December.