Manchester City and Real Madrid will once again meet in the UEFA Champions League but only this time, it will be for a place in the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition, Afrosport reports.
2023 champions City will take on 15-time winners and reigning European champions Madrid in a two-legged affair in the knockout phase play-offs with the Premier League champions hosting the first leg at Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side saw off Club Brugge 3-1 on Wednesday on the final day in the league phase to squeeze through to the next round, while Madrid comfortably saw off Brest 3-0 in France.
This will be the fifth two-legged encounter between City and Madrid in the last six seasons, with Los Blancos edging the tie on penalties in the quarter-finals.
Both sides have previously played each other 12 times in the competition, with City edging this fixture with four wins compared to Madrid’s three, while they have played out a draw on five occasions.
However, the pairing of City and Madrid means 1967 European champions Celtic will take on six-time winners Bayern Munich, with the first leg set for Celtic Park, while the return fixture is at Allianz Arena.
The winners of either of the matches will advance to face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
The knockout phase play-offs are set ✅#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/9KWMSgQWoD
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 31, 2025
Meanwhile, Juventus have been drawn against PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord face AC Milan, and Club Brugge will tackle Atalanta.
An all-French affair will see Brest lock horns against Paris St Germain, Monaco will take on Benfica, and Sporting have been drawn against Borussia Dortmund.
The first legs of the knockout phase playoffs will take place on 11-12 February with the return fixtures set for a week later.
The road to Munich mapped out 🏆#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/BbVxl80dhD
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 31, 2025
Full Champions League play-off draw
Brest v Paris St-Germain
Club Brugge v Atalanta
Manchester City v Real Madrid
Juventus v PSV Eindhoven
Monaco v Benfica
Sporting v Borussia Dortmund
Celtic v Bayern Munich
Feyenoord v AC Milan
