In the two previous seasons City were unlucky to meet Barcelona at the same stage of the tournament, which is why their Champions League campaigns ended so early. This time they have drawn one of the "easiest" opponents in the round of 16, and Manchester City are unlikely to waste their best chance yet of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
The Citizens also look more mature and much improved compared with their Champions League campaign a year earlier. Despite a temporary dip in Premier League form, the team still has a chance of winning three trophies in 2015/16. They are just six points behind leaders Leicester City with 12 matches to go, and they have already reached the Capital One Cup final, where they will face the Merseysiders.
Manchester City's greatest success in European competition is winning The European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970, when they beat Polish side Górnik Zabrze 2-1 in the final. Since then the Citizens have reached the semi-finals of the same competition once, in 1971. Their best performance in the Champions League so far has been reaching the round of 16. This is their sixth appearance in Europe's most prestigious club competition, and it looks as though they are about to set a new club record.
If Manchester City are lucky enough to avoid some of the best teams in the next round, they could go even further, because they have the necessary quality. The key questions are whether they are competitive enough to knock out Barcelona or Real Madrid, whether Sergio Agüero and Vincent Kompany can lead the Citizens to glory, and whether Pellegrini can motivate his players. If the answers are yes, they could even win the Champions League.
The second leg and the quarter-final
The return leg at the Etihad Stadium on 15 March 2016 ended 0-0, and Manchester City went through 3-1 on aggregate to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time. The night was not without cost: Vincent Kompany went off injured after seven minutes and Nicolás Otamendi followed a quarter of an hour later, while Joe Hart kept a clean sheet.
The draw for the last eight paired City with Paris Saint-Germain. The first leg in Paris on 6 April finished 2-2, Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho scoring the away goals. In the second leg on 12 April, De Bruyne struck in the 76th minute for a 1-0 win and a 3-2 aggregate victory, despite Sergio Agüero missing a first-half penalty.
The semi-final and the League Cup
City's run ended in the semi-finals against Real Madrid. After a goalless first leg in Manchester, the second leg at the Bernabéu on 4 May 2016 was decided in the 20th minute, when Gareth Bale's effort deflected off Fernando and into the net. The 1-0 aggregate defeat sent Real Madrid through to the final against Atlético Madrid in Milan.
Domestically, City did collect one trophy. In the League Cup final at Wembley on 28 February 2016, they drew 1-1 with Liverpool, Fernandinho scoring after half-time before Philippe Coutinho equalised late on. In the shoot-out Willy Caballero saved from Lucas Leiva, Coutinho and Adam Lallana, and City won 3-1 on penalties. In the Premier League they finished fourth with 66 points.
The wait for the trophy
The question of whether City could win the Champions League was answered seven years later. On 10 June 2023 they beat Inter 1-0 in the final at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Rodri scoring the only goal. It was the club's first European Cup and their first European trophy since 1970, and it completed a treble.
Questions people ask
What was the score between Dynamo Kyiv and Manchester City in 2016?
Manchester City won the first leg 3-1 in Kyiv, with goals from Sergio Agüero, David Silva and Yaya Touré. The second leg in Manchester ended 0-0, so City went through 3-1 on aggregate.
Who did Manchester City beat in the 2016 Champions League quarter-final?
City beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 on aggregate. Kevin De Bruyne scored in both legs, including the only goal of the second leg on 12 April 2016.
Who knocked Manchester City out of the 2015–16 Champions League?
Real Madrid won the semi-final 1-0 on aggregate. The only goal came at the Bernabéu on 4 May 2016, when Gareth Bale's effort deflected in off Fernando.
When did Manchester City win the Champions League?
Manchester City won their first Champions League on 10 June 2023, beating Inter 1-0 in Istanbul. Rodri scored the goal, and the win completed a treble.