Manchester City could be set for five crucial fixtures across just 14 days in February that could ultimately define their season. Pep Guardiola's side have significantly struggled for consistency over the last few months with just five wins since late October.

The champions look to have turned a corner however, with four of those triumphs coming from their last five games in all competitions. City are in fact unbeaten since Boxing Day and though there have been some disappointing draws in that time, 22 goals have been scored while three clean sheets have also been kept.

Those positive results have arrived at the perfect time it would appear with City about to enter into a challenging run of fixtures which starts with a crucial Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain. Both clubs are at risk of being eliminated from the league phase with City in 24th, the final play-off spot, and PSG two places below.

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The top eight are guaranteed a spot in the last-16 with two of those spaces having already been filled by Liverpool and Barcelona. The following 16 teams will then battle it out in a play-off round to complete the line-up for the first knockout stage.

Defeat in France would place City's chances of qualification in huge doubt before their final European league game at home to Club Brugge. Qualifying automatically, while still possible, is highly unlikely as Aston Villa currently occupy the final spot on 13 points while City are on a tally of eight.

The most likely scenario is that City have to navigate the play-off phase and that presents a busy fixture schedule. With the first leg of that round to be played on either Tuesday, February 11 or Wednesday, February 12 and the second leg to follow seven days later, Guardiola will want to deploy his best team in order to progress.

However, he will be facing a number of huge team selection decisions because of the games that surround those hypothetical Champions League ties. Just a few days on from their potential first leg, Newcastle United are the visitors to Etihad Stadium with Eddie Howe's side having won nine of their last 10 games in all competitions.

The reverse fixture in Europe is then up next before City, again at home, take on Liverpool in Premier League action. While slim, City can still drag themselves back into the title race with that game against Arne Slot's side sure to be crucial.

Given what is on the line, that 11-day period may be crucial towards the outcome of City's 2025/26 campaign, though Guardiola's side can secure an early advantage. Finishing between 8th and 16th would see City have the return leg on home soil which would mean three games in a row in Manchester and thus limited travel.