UEFA Champions League Playoff: Manchester City and Real Madrid set for blockbuster
Defending champions Real Madrid will face 2022/23 winners Manchester City in the standout tie of the UEFA Champions League knockout playoff round, ensuring that one of the tournament’s recent powerhouses will bow out early.
Madrid and City have been dominant forces in European football, with at least one of them appearing in each of the last four Champions League finals. However, both teams failed to secure a top-eight finish in the new league-phase format, forcing them into this high-stakes encounter.
City barely avoided elimination, finishing 22nd in the standings after a crucial 3-1 victory over Club Brugge on the final match-week. Meanwhile, Madrid, the record 15-time European champions, will be looking to avenge their semi-final defeat to Pep Guardiola’s side last season.
The draw also produced other intriguing matchups, including an all-French clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Brest, while Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich take on Scottish champions Celtic. Juventus face PSV, and AC Milan will meet Feyenoord in a battle of former champions.
Full UEFA Champions League Knockout Playoff Round Draw:
- Manchester City vs. Real Madrid
- Club Brugge vs. Atalanta
- Sporting CP vs. Borussia Dortmund
- Celtic vs. Bayern Munich
- Juventus vs. PSV
- Feyenoord vs. AC Milan
- Brest vs. Paris Saint-Germain
- Monaco vs. Benfica
The first-leg fixtures are scheduled for February 11-12, with the return legs set for February 18-19. The winners will advance to the Round of 16, where the full bracket for the quarter-finals and semi-finals will be determined in a draw on February 21.
