Manchester City Champions League defense will continue tonight when they play Copenhagen in the round of 16. However, the club will continue to be concerned about the possibility of being barred from the competition the following year because to Girona’s La Liga triumph.
Girona was the surprise package in Spain this year, racing to a title contender before falling to Real Madrid 4-0 on Saturday, which dropped them to five points behind Carlo Ancelotti’s team. But they are still five points ahead of Barcelona, who is in third position.
In 2017, Girona was acquired by City Football Group for $44.3%; this amount has since been raised to 47%. Two clubs controlled by the same organization are not allowed to participate in the same European competition under UEFA rules, which raises questions over both teams’ participation in 2019–20.
Manchester City may have to sell their Girona shares if both teams go to the Champions League, just like Brighton and Aston Villa did when they advanced to the same European tournament as their sister teams, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and Vitoria de Guimaraes. After Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% acquisition is approved, Manchester United may be in for a similar threat because the Britishman already controls Nice in Ligue 1.
