Man City at risk of breaking Ferran Soriano's golden rule amid £6m Champions League shortfall

Manchester City's Champions League struggles have already cost them almost £6m in lost prizemoney - and the Blues could end up losing out on significantly more as they face a battle to reach the last-16.

City went more than two seasons unbeaten in Europe, the penalty shoot-out loss to Real Madrid last season their only 'defeat' since losing to the same opponent in 2022.

This season started well, too, with seven points from their first three fixtures of the new league phase. But one point from the next three has all-but ended their hopes of an automatic place in the last-16, with Pep Guardiola admitting City are in a battle to reach a play-off place let alone the top eight.

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City are only a point clear of the cut-off to reach the play-off round, although one win from their final two fixtures against PSG and Club Brugge should see them scrape through. If they don't manage that - which is far from guaranteed on current form - they could face a huge financial black hole.

A place in the last-16 gives clubs £9m, but but City almost certainly have to navigate a play-off to get there, which holds no guarantees of progression as some other big clubs are in similar positions.

City's two wins, two draws and two defeats has already been costly too. Each win in the league phase is worth £1.7m and a draw £576,000. From a maximum £10.38m so far, City have banked just £4.6m - a shortfall of around £5.7m. Liverpool, for example, have amassed the full £10.6m available so far with their 100 per cent record.

Add to that the risk of missing out on £9m in the