Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is hoping they can avoid Manchester City in the Champions League knockout phase play-offs, Afrosport reports.
Los Blancos defeated Brest 3-0 in France on Wednesday night with Rodrygo scoring a brace and Jude Bellingham adding another.
3 goals ✅
3 points ✅Real Madrid finish in the knockout phase play-offs ⚪️#UCL pic.twitter.com/soEJdNLdTZ
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 29, 2025
Madrid, however finished 11th with 15 points in the league phase, failing to secure a top eight spot, and have a 50% chance of playing one of City or Celtic ahead of Friday’s draw.
Ancelotti, meanwhile, is hopeful they avoid City, who he said have more quality and structure than Celtic.
“Well, we have to wait for the draw,” said Ancelotti. “On paper, if we get [Manchester] City, it will be more complicated for both teams. But we can only wait for the draw and nothing more.
“I think that, on paper, 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 Italian manager was pleased with his team’s performance at the Stade du Roudourou, but the 65-year-old bemoaned their earlier results in the competition.
Madrid began slowly in the Champions League, losing half of their opening six games, before winning their last two to avoid any possibility of an early elimination.
“The game [against Brest] was good, we played well,” he added. “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.”
The reigning European champions will now turn their attention to La Liga, where they will head to Catalonia to take on Espanyol on Sunday.
