Manchester City players have been told to make the most of their home advantage if they want to avoid extra games in the Champions League.
City take on Sparta Prague on Wednesday at the Etihad, with both teams going into the match on four points after their opening two fixtures. There is uncertainty for clubs around the new format given that there is no set points total that will guarantee a top-eight finish that automatically books their place in the last-16.
With trips left against trickier opponents, Guardiola is determined for City to press home their advantage in games against Sparta, Feyenoord, and Club Brugge. The Blues are on a run of 50 unbeaten games at the Etihad in all competitions dating back to November 2022 and Guardiola has never lost a group stage match in the Champions League at the ground.
“The truth is that every week there are incredible games. It was Man City-Inter Milan, Wednesday will be Barcelona-Bayern Munich,” he said.
“There are a lot of games. We have more than 30 teams and just eight qualify, so I’m pretty sure there will be top, top teams that have to qualify with extra games from the first 24.
“I’m pretty sure if we don’t close the games at home, after our draw against Inter Milan, we have three incredible away [games]: in Lisbon against Sporting – they went seven for seven in the Portuguese League – then Juventus in Turin, PSG away. I would say it’s not easy.
“The games we have at home, we have to close it. Otherwise, it will be so difficult to finish in the first eight, that is the target we want to achieve.”