MANCHESTER City boss Pep Guardiola expects the race in Champions League Group C for the last-16 qualification spots to go down to the final round of matches.

Guardiola’s men won their first game in the pool 4-0 at home against Borussia Monchengladbach, while his former club Barcelona thrashed Celtic 7-0.

Things were then much tighter on Wednesday as matchday two saw City fight back from a goal down three times to draw 3-3 with Celtic at Parkhead, and Barca come from behind to win 2-1 in Monchengladbach.

Read more: Mikael Lustig: All-action Celtic performance earned respect of Pep GuardiolaGlasgow Times:

Second-placed City’s next two fixtures in the group are against leaders Barcelona away and then home, followed by a trip to Monchengladbach before they finish up by hosting Celtic.

And Guardiola, whose side had won each of their 10 games under him in all competitions this season prior to Wednesday’s without once trailing, said after the 3-3 draw: “When the fourth team in the pot is Celtic, you immediately realise how tough it will be to qualify, to go through.

Read more: Mikael Lustig: All-action Celtic performance earned respect of Pep Guardiola

“[It will be like that] to the last game, when we play Celtic at home.

“I said to my players in the beginning, in this group it will be decided if you are able to qualify for the next round in the last game.

“Now is the time to analyse what we did, and we are going to see what happens at Barcelona, and then [against them] at home.

“Of course, we are now second, but we have chances still, so we’ll see.”