Man City may not be able to participate in Champion League if Girona wins La Liga

The fairy-tale story of Girona could turn into a nightmare for Manchester City's participation in the Champions League.

Top 5 clubs with the most points in Europe currently: 1st place is too impressive

Manchester City is currently trailing Liverpool by 5 points in the Premier League. Time is still on the side of the Etihad-based team for a comeback similar to previous seasons, but missing out on the domestic title could lead to more repercussions than just disappointment for Pep Guardiola's team.

The City Football Group also owns a stake in the Spanish club Girona, which is currently leading the La Liga table. In the scenario where Girona clinches the top spot in the Spanish league, the reigning European champions Manchester City might not qualify for the Champions League if they secure only the second position in the Premier League. This is due to UEFA regulations that state no teams under the same ownership group can participate in the same competition.

Girona is flying high in La Liga

If two teams under shared ownership qualify for the same competition, the team with the better performance will be eligible to participate in the Champions League. Therefore, if Girona wins La Liga and Manchester City finishes as the runner-up in the Premier League, Guardiola's squad will have to settle for the Europa League.

Man City may have to drop down to play the Europa League if the above situation occurs

There were suggestions that Girona might be compelled to give up the La Liga title to allow Manchester City to participate in the Champions League, but this proposal has been rejected. Additionally, there have been examples of UEFA attempting to navigate ownership regulations, as seen when RB Leipzig and FC Salzburg were allowed to compete together in the Champions League despite being operated by the Red Bull Group.

This could also be the case for Manchester United's neighbors, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS group, besides holding a stake in Old Trafford, also owns Ligue 1 club Nice. If Manchester United has a lower position than Nice, Erik Ten Hag's squad might find themselves watching the competition from the sidelines.