City’s clash with AEK Athens on Tuesday will be our 150th match in the Champions League/European Cup proper.
The landmark comes in our 15th successive campaign in Europe’s elite competition, the longest active run of any English side.
Discounted from this figure are our two qualifiers in 2016/17, overcoming Steaua Bucharest to reach the group stage.
Get your tickets for City v AEK Athens now
2011/12 saw us qualify for the competition for the first time in 43 years, losing in the first round of what was then known as the European Cup in a two-legged tie with Fenerbahce.
Since then, we’ve cemented our place as one of the leading sides across Europe having lifted the famous trophy in 2023, finished runners-up in 2021 and reached the quarter-finals on six further occasions.
In total, we’ve won 83 of our first 149 matches in the Champions League, scoring 313 goals and conceding just 180.
2022/23 is undoubtedly our crown jewel when it comes to Champions League campaigns, with City swatting aside the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid before a tense, historic 1-0 win over Inter to lift the trophy in Istanbul.
Quiz: City’s Champions League road to 150 games
There has also been significant moments of pain on the journey, with a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the final in Porto in 2021, a late, late turnaround for Real Madrid in 2022 denying us a place in that year’s showpiece and an all-time classic quarter-final going the way of Spurs in 2018/19.
Bernardo Silva has represented us in the Champions League more than anyone else, wearing the shirt 86 times.
Ilkay Gundogan is next on 77, with Ederson on 76, Fernandinho on 74 and Kevin De Bruyne rounding out the top five on 73.
Erling Haaland is our record scorer, netting 38 times in 41 appearances.
In fact, he went past Sergio Aguero (36 in 64 games) with his first strike against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
Watch video for free with a Cityzens account
Loading your video
Only six players have ever scored more in the competition than our No.9 with 61 goals in 60 appearances, while no player in the top 50 can come anywhere close to his goal to game ratio of better than 1:1.
After Aguero, Raheem Sterling (24 in 67), Gabriel Jesus (20 in 39) and Phil Foden (20 in 69) have been the most prolific in the competition for the Blues.
Real Madrid are comfortably our most common opponents, having faced them 17 times.
Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are next with eight matches apiece, ahead of Borussia Dortmund on seven.
Pep Guardiola has led us into 105 of our 149 games to date, winning 64 games and ending with a goal difference of +124.
The Catalan is one of the greatest managers in the tournament’s history, having won 117 of his 191 games.
Watch video for free with a Cityzens account
Loading your video
Only Carlo Ancelotti has won more games than him – 124 in 218 – and more titles than his three.
Manuel Pellegrini was in the Etihad hotseat for 28 games in his three years as City boss, winning 13 times.
Roberto Mancini oversaw 12 matches but only claimed three wins while Joe Mercer was the boss in 1968.
The visit of AEK Athens will be Enzo Maresca’s third game in charge, having guided us to wins over Porto and Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the 2026/27 campaign.
Here’s hoping for another night to remember!
Be at City v AEK Athens!
We welcome the Greek champions in a 20:00 (UK) kick-off on Tuesday 20 October for our third game in this year’s League Phase.
Known for their vociferous support and enjoying their first Champions League campaign since 2018/19, the striking yellow and black colours of AEK Athens make for a spectacle everywhere they go.
And every game counts if we’re to finish in the top eight and ensure safe progression through to the Round of 16.
So make sure you’re there to support the Blues, with adult prices starting from £35 and Under-18s just £20 each.
And why not make a special night of it?
We have a wide range of hospitality packages available, whether you’re looking for an exclusive bar, a dining experience or true once-in-a-lifetime magic, it’s all available at the Etihad Stadium.
In fact, hospitality starts from just £90 per person!
And you can save 20% off your hospitality when you book any two eligible home UEFA Champions League fixtures in the brand-new City Hall or CROSSBAR suites!