Manchester City will face reigning champions Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs, setting up a high-stakes encounter for the English side. Meanwhile, Scottish champions Celtic are drawn against Bayern Munich.
City will host Madrid at the Etihad Stadium on February 11 or 12, before travelling to Spain for the return leg the following week. This marks the fourth consecutive Champions League meeting between the two clubs: City triumphed in 2023 on their way to their first European title, while Madrid claimed victory last season.
Despite securing a 3-1 win over Club Brugge on the final group-stage matchday to reach the top 24, City’s lower seeding has set them up for an early, high-profile clash against the Spanish giants.
Other notable fixtures include Paris Saint-Germain facing fellow Ligue 1 side Brest, and Juventus taking on PSV Eindhoven. English clubs Liverpool, Arsenal, and Aston Villa have already secured their places in the last 16 following strong group-stage performances.
Teams will discover their opponents in the next draw scheduled for February 21. The first legs of the play-offs are set for February 11 and 12, with return fixtures scheduled for February 18 and 19, promising a thrilling start to the knockout phase.
