Defending champions, Real Madrid will once again face Manchester City in a blockbuster Champions League knockout playoff tie after the two European giants were drawn against each other in Friday’s draw in Nyon.
Both teams missed out on automatic qualification to the last 16 under the new league-phase format, finishing 11th (Real Madrid) and 22nd (Manchester City), respectively. As a result, they must now navigate a two-legged playoff to secure a place in the next round.
This will be the fourth consecutive season that Real Madrid and Manchester City clash in the Champions League knockout stages, having built an intense rivalry in recent years.
City’s manager, Pep Guardiola acknowledged the significance of the tie, likening it to a derby. “It feels like a derby already four years in a row facing Real Madrid,” Guardiola said. “But whether it was Bayern or Madrid, both would have been really tough. Hopefully, we can be in our best shape for both legs.”
Real Madrid, the Spanish league leaders, have historically dominated English opposition, having eliminated Premier League clubs 13 times in previous knockout rounds. While City crushed them 5-1 on aggregate in the 2023 semi-finals, Madrid got their revenge last season by knocking out Guardiola’s side on penalties after two draws.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti accepted the challenge, stating that while avoiding City would have been preferable, his team has the strength to handle the extra matches.
“In a perfect world, we wouldn’t play them, but we weren’t able to secure a top-eight spot, and that’s OK. Playing two more games doesn’t matter—we have the resources to deal with it.”
The path does not get any easier for either side, as the winner of Real Madrid vs. Manchester City will face either Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
For the first time, teams from the same league can face each other in the playoffs. This has set up an all-French encounter, with Paris Saint-Germain drawn against Brest. PSG manager, Luis Enrique looked at the positives, highlighting the growing strength of French football.
“There will be a French team in the last 16, so we have to see the positive side,” Enrique said. “The French league is not valued enough, yet there are four French teams in the Champions League knockouts.”
Italy’s Juventus and AC Milan avoided an early clash but face tough Dutch opposition in PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord, respectively. If both progress, they could meet Inter Milan or Arsenal in the next round.
Meanwhile, last year’s finalists, Borussia Dortmund take on Portuguese side, Sporting, while Club Brugge faces Atalanta in another exciting contest.
Champions League Knockout Playoff Draw
- Club Brugge vs Atalanta
- Sporting vs Borussia Dortmund
- Manchester City vs Real Madrid
- Celtic vs Bayern Munich
- Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven
- Feyenoord vs AC Milan
- Brest vs Paris Saint-Germain
- AS Monaco vs Benfica
(Teams listed second will play the second leg at home.)
Key Dates
- First leg: February 11/12
- Second leg: February 18/19
- Last 16 draw: February 21
With high-stakes matchups and fierce rivalries renewed, the Champions League knockout phase promises thrilling encounters as clubs fight for a spot in the last 16.
