Have Manchester City won the Champions League? History of Citizens’ quest to win biggest trophy in Europe

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Manchester City’s quest to win the Champions League was ended last year as they were beaten by Real Madrid in remarkable circumstances in the semifinals but they are now 90 minutes away from a historic treble.

Pep Guardiola’s side had seemed set to reach a second final in succession after taking a 5-3 aggregate lead, but Madrid forced extra time through two extremely late goals from Rodrygo, before a penalty from Karim Benzema proved decisive.

Despite tasting so much glory in England — including a Premier League and FA Cup double this season — City are still missing the final piece of the major trophy puzzle.

In 2022/23, Guardiola’s side have are now on course to complete the treble if they can find a way past Inter Milan in Istanbul on June 10.

Here’s a season-by-season look at City’s history in Europe’s elite club competition.

MORE: Are Manchester City the greatest dynasty in sports?

1968/69

Stage eliminated: First round

City’s first involvement came when the competition was known as the European Cup, when only the reigning champions of each major nation qualified. They were knocked out by Turkish giants Fenerbahce in the first round.

2011/12

Stage eliminated: Group stage

Three years after their takeover, City entered the Champions League. However, they were in a difficult group containing Napoli, Bayern Munich and Villarreal, somewhat understandably failing to progress. Roberto Mancini’s men dropped down into the Europa League, where they went out in the round of 16.

2012/13

Stage eliminated: Group stage

There was another tough group for City in the following season, as they were pitted against Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax. They finished bottom with just three points, as the battle for coefficient points was clearly hurting the new power with these daunting draws. 

2013/14

Stage eliminated: Round of 16

On this occasion City made it through the group stage, finishing 2nd behind reigning champions Bayern Munich. However, City were knocked out by Barcelona in the round of 16, with Lionel Messi and Dani Alves both scoring in both legs.

2014/15

Stage eliminated: Round of 16

City again finished 2nd behind Bayern in the group stages, this time after defeating the German giants thanks to a Sergio Aguero hat-trick. And once more they lost to Barcelona in the first knockout round, with the Spanish side winning 3-1 on aggregate – this time powered by former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, en route to winning the treble. 

2015/16

Stage eliminated: Semifinals

This was the first season in which City made major progress in the Champions League. After getting out of a group including Juventus, Borussia Monchengladbach and Sevilla, they beat Dynamo Kyiv and PSG. Eventually, Manuel Pellegrini took on former club Real Madrid, losing 1-0 on aggregate to bring an end to his City tenure. 

2016/17

Stage eliminated: Round of 16

Now managed by Pep Guardiola, City had to come through the play-off round as they beat Steaua Bucharest. The English side then finished 2nd behind Barcelona in Group C. In a hugely entertaining round-of-16 tie, they ended up drawing 6-6 on aggregate against Monaco, with the Ligue 1 underdogs prevailing on the away goals rule.

2017/18

Stage eliminated: Quarterfinals

City progressed out of a group that contained Shakhtar Donetsk, Napoli and Feyenoord. They then beat Basel in the Round of 16, but were defeated by Liverpool in an all-English quarterfinal clash. It was a game which signalled the start of a modern rivalry with Jurgen Klopp’s men, as Mohamed Salah became the hero during an iconic 5-1 aggregate victory for the Reds. 

2018/19

Stage eliminated: Quarterfinals

Again City lost out to fellow Premier League opposition in the last eight, with Tottenham Hotspur getting the better of them this time. City were in a group with Lyon, Hoffenheim and Shakhtar Donetsk before overcoming Schalke in the round of 16. In the quarter-finals, the away goals rule proved to be decisive once more as Fernando Llorente got the winner in a game best remembered for VAR overturning a late Raheem Sterling “winner”. 

2019/20

Stage eliminated: Quarterfinals

City were knocked out in the quarterfinals, in what was fast becoming a trend. Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb and Atalanta were in their group and Guardiola’s side then got the better of the mighty Real Madrid in the round of 16. However, City lost to Lyon in the quarterfinals, with a single-legged tie played in Lisbon due to the Covid pandemic.

2020/21

Stage eliminated: Final

Last season, City made it to the Champions League final for the first time in their history. They topped Group C, which also comprised Porto, Olympiacos and Marseille, before getting past Borussia Dortmund and PSG in an impressive knockout stage run. Chelsea beat City in the final, however, with Kai Havertz getting the winner in Portugal.

2021/22

Stage eliminated: Semifinals

This term, City topped their group as they finished above PSG, RB Leipzig and Club Brugge. City then got past Sporting and Atletico Madrid, looking to eventually set up an all-English final with fierce foes Liverpool. Real Madrid had other ideas, though, completing a sensational late comeback from 5-3 down on aggregate.

2022/23

Stage eliminated: TBC

City made relatively light work of their group-stage campaign once again, winning four and drawing two of their matches against Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Copenhagen to finish five points clear at the top of Group G.

They drew RB Leipzig in the quarterfinals and after a 1-1 draw away from home, City returned to Manchester and won the home leg 7-0. 

Having beaten Bayern Munich 3-0 on home soil in the first leg of the quarterfinals, they recorded a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena to set up a meeting with Real Madrid.

After escaping the Santiago Bernabeu with a 1-1 scoreline, City humiliated the European champions with a stunning 4-0 win back in Manchester to reach the final where they’ll face Inter Milan.

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