Pep Guardiola fears Manchester City's bid to knock holders Real Madrid out of the Champions League will be hampered by the gruelling demands of the Premier League schedule.

City came back from a goal down to beat Belgian side Brugge on Wednesday in a nerve-jangling must-win league phase finale, to finish 22nd in the table - three places above elimination.

The new 36-team format provided plenty of tension, but all the fancied sides at least finished in the top 24 to stay in the competition.

The holders will face either Celtic or Manchester City in the two-legged playoff on February, with the second leg at home.

Balde was full of praise for Atalanta, who won last season's Europa League, but was left stumped by an Italian journalist's other question about their coach Gian Piero Gasperini's style of play at a press conference on Tuesday.

Manchester City are 25th in the standings -- a place away from play-off spots -- and Pep Guardiola’s men must need a win at home against Club Brugge to sneak into the top 24.

The reigning champions of Europe are ensured of their place in at least the knockout play-off round as the league phase of the revamped Champions League wraps up with its final matchday this week.

Santos' president told Brazilian superstar Neymar it was "time to return to (his) people" in a video published on social media on Tuesday.

City have reached the Champions League knockout stages every season since Guardiola took the helm in 2016, but they are in danger of missing out with the new format this year where they sit 25th in the standings -- outside even the playoff spots.

Ancelotti heaped praise on his forwards, with Brazilians Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo scoring twice either side of a goal by Kylian Mbappe as last year's winners secured a spot in the knockout stage.

Arteta's side swatted aside the Croatian champions at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday thanks to Declan Rice's early opener and second half goals from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard.

"They were better. We have to accept it, We have the last chance at home against Bruges. We will do everything there and if we don't it is because we don't deserve it," Guardiola told reporters after the match at the Parc des Princes.

The Scottish champions had a first-half penalty saved, three goals disallowed and ended with 10 men after Daizen Maeda saw red but held on to ensure they will finish in the top 24 of the 36-team table and reach the play-off round.

The last-gasp victory sends Atletico third in the Champions League table, with the top eight sides all avoiding an extra knockout round.

Raphinha struck a dramatic winner in stoppage time as Barcelona came from behind to beat Benfica 5-4 in a wild match on Tuesday and virtually ensure direct qualification to the Champions League last 16.

Liverpool maintained their perfect Champions League record to guarantee a top-two finish in the league phase and automatic last-16 qualification with a 2-1 win over Lille at Anfield on Tuesday.

Liverpool top the Champions League table by three points, having won all six of their games, while Bruno Genesio's Lille are eighth on 13 points in the final automatic qualifying spot.

The Catalan giants have won just one of their last eight league games, falling behind rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, but by contrast are flying high in Europe.

Olmo has scored six goals and registered three assists in 18 appearances since joining Barca in the close season from RB Leipzig. The Catalans are second in the Champions League table, having won five of their six games.

Last season, around this time, there was a surprise package in Girona in the top three of LaLiga. However, a year later, the Spanish league has returned to the status quo, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid -- the three giants of Spain -- occupying the top three spots on the table at the end of 2024.