Pep Guardiola said he was proud to have made the Champions League part of Manchester City's DNA ahead of his 100th match in charge of the club in the competition, at home to Bayer Leverkusen.

On Tuesday, Guardiola will become only the third manager to oversee 100 European Cup or Champions League games in charge of an English club.

Only Alex Ferguson with Manchester United (190 matches) and Arsene Wenger with Arsenal (177) have previously achieved that feat.

City have won 62 of their first 99 games under Guardiola in the competition, drawing 19 and losing 18, while capturing their first European crown against Inter in Istanbul, in 2023.

City have 10 points from their first four games in the 2025-26 edition and sit fourth in the 36-team standings, with Leverkusen down in 21st, five points back.

Guardiola's team only need one more point to equal their tally from last season's league stage, as they scraped into the knockout stages in 22nd before losing 6-3 on aggregate to Real Madrid.

When asked about his 100th Champions League game with City at Monday's pre-match press conference, Guardiola said: "I realise I'm getting old! Every week is a milestone.

"Every season we have been there and hopefully next season we will be there too.

"It's special for the players, managers and everyone. To challenge yourself with the best teams in Europe is incredible, a huge experience. 

"For the club, in terms of repetition, prestige, financial issues, it's massively important.

"There are more disappointments than good moments. There have been good moments, especially in group stages, we have been top every season, except last season with the new format.

"But of course, it has been a top experience. Good moments and bad moments define a team, a club. 

"Sport is tough, so not everything is flowers on the road, or easy and comfortable."

City have not trailed at any point in the Champions League this season and have led for 62% of their total match time (239 minutes, 45 seconds). 

In over two hours of play when their matches have been level (146 minutes, 43 seconds), Guardiola's side have had 41 shots and only faced two in return (+39).

They also rank first in the competition for successful passes (2,511), pass accuracy (91.9%), open-play sequences of 10 or more passes (95) and average passes per sequence (6.2). They are also the only team not to concede a single fast break in the current edition.