Manchester City gave the toughest possible tie to the Champions League Knockout round as they face Real Madrid holders.
The city competed in the championship phase and had to come back to beat Club Brugge on Wednesday to stumble in a top-24 position.
We will face Real Madrid in @CchampionslagueGue The Phase Play-Off Phase Knockout! 💪 pic.twitter.com/rwevsjuuk0
– Manchester City (@mancity) 31 January 2025
This allowed them to face a tie with two legs against either Bayern Munich or 15-year-old Real winners-and were the Spanish giants who came out of the hat.
Bayern instead faced Celtic, while AC Milan avoided a tie against Juventus, but newcomer Brest gave a difficult tie against the improvement of PSG.
The city was hit by the real last season in the fourth stage. The sides drew 3-3 in the first leg in Madrid and 1-1 in Etihad, before Real won 4-3 in sanctions.
Two -legged links will take place on the weeks of February 11 and 18 February.
A complete look at the Champions League play-offs 🔍#UCLDRAW pic.twitter.com/fvqdpufh2j
– Football at TNT Sports (@footballontnt) 31 January 2025
In the event of the city’s progress, they will play either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the 16th round.
Liverpool will play Brest V PSG winners or Monaco winners against Benfica. Aston Villa will face anyone who wins Sporting by Borussia Dortmund or Club Brugge V Atalanta and Arsenal will face the Juventus V PSV winners or the winners of Feyenoord V AC Milan.
The draw for this round of 16 will take place in February.
Draw
- Club Brugge in Atalanta
- Athletic to Borussia Dortmund
- Manchester City by Real Madrid
- Celtic against Bayern Munich
- Juventus v psv
- Feyenoord in AC Milan
- Brest V Paris St-Germain
- Munich by Benfica
