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When UEFA executives sit down to watch Manchester City take on Real Madrid next week there will be absolutely no doubt as to who they want to emerge from a mouthwatering last-16 tie.

European football's governing body should probably be seen to be neutral when it comes to the Champions League and the jewel in their crown, but not only are relations between City and UEFA at an all-time low, but while the Blues are still in this year's competition then there remains the possibility of a finalist that would cause plenty of embarrassment in the corridors of power at UEFA's Nyon HQ.

UEFA might have come down heavily on City for Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches with a two-year Champions League ban, but Pep Guardiola's side remain in this year's competition and, while they are in the mix, the greatest form of protest remains open to them.

City's legal team is already preparing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the club remain confident of having the decision overturned, but on the pitch Guardiola and his players have to turn their attention back to the football.

A burning sense of injustice might be just what they need to rediscover the spark that has been diminished for much of this season and Guardiola will hope his team take out their frustrations on Real at the Bernabeu.

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When the La Liga leaders return to the Etihad next month UEFA will be left in no doubt as to the strength of feeling towards them from City fans, who have always held a disregard and a suspicion towards them, a position strengthened by last week's developments.

But Guardiola and his players will have a different form of protest in mind. The City boss has had a difficult time trying to convert City fans into Champions League disciples in his time at the club, but the prospect of winning this year's competition might just help.

The full decision from CAS last week on City's attempts to get UEFA's case thrown out before a decision was even made laid bare the strength of feeling on both sides, so the last thing the governing body wants is to see a club they have banished from European competition turning up to the party in Istanbul in May.

However far down the line the latest CAS appeal is by then, seeing City in the final will be a source of embarrassment for UEFA. The prospect of having to hand over the trophy to them is probably too much to contemplate at the moment, a prospect that will leave the executive committee members waking up in the night in a cold sweat.

It would be a delicious irony for City to finally conquer Europe under Guardiola in a year where they've been told they are not welcome in UEFA's grandest competition for two years.

The look on the face of UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin if he was forced to hand over the huge Champions League trophy to City at the Ataturk Stadium in May could be a sight to behold. For UEFA, the idea of City going on to win the competition this year is hugely unpalatable.

The Blues still expect that this won't be their last chance of getting their hands on that trophy for a couple of years, and almost certainly Guardiola's last chance, but it would be a special year to finally claim European glory given the tensions that now exist between the club and UEFA.