Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful his team avoid playing Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 playoffs, Afrosport reports.
Los Blancos defeated debutants Brest 3-0 on Wednesday night to end the league phase in 11th place just one point shy of an automatic spot into the round of 16.
The reigning champions will face either Celtic or Man City in the playoffs for a chance to reach the last eight where the winner will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen.
“Well, we have to wait for the draw. On paper, if we get [Manchester] City, it will be more complicated for both teams,” Ancelotti said.
“But we can only wait for the draw and nothing more. The game was good, we played well. We showed a good version of ourselves, the team was solid, focused, and we are happy.
“It’s a pity because we could have woken up a bit earlier in this competition, but it is what it is and we are happy to be at this level in this moment.”
👔 @MrAncelotti equals Miguel Muñoz as the Real Madrid coach with the most matches in the European Cup! pic.twitter.com/lnca0MNw5T
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 29, 2025
The Italian tactician added: “I think that, on paper, [Manchester] City have more chances to win the Champions League than Celtic in terms of structure and quality.
“Therefore, it’s quite easy to answer that we don’t like to play against City. But if we have to play against City, we will play like we did the previous years.”
The draws for the round of 16 playoffs will take place in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday afternoon. The fixtures will take place over two legs on February 11 and 12 and February 18 and 19.
