Champions League: Real Madrid face Man City in playoff
Defending champions Real Madrid have been paired with 2023 winners Manchester City in a blockbuster clash in the Champions League play-off round, as revealed in Friday’s draw.
It is the fourth year running in which the sides have been drawn against each other in a knockout tie, with Real emerging victorious in a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals last season.
City, who scraped through after finishing 22nd in the league phase in this first season of the new format for Europe’s elite club competition, will be at home in the first leg before going to Spain for the return.
Elsewhere, Celtic will face six-time European champions Bayern Munich, after the Scottish champions reached the knockout stage for the first time in 12 years.
Paris Saint-Germain will play surprise package Brest in an all-French tie, while Juventus play PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord take on AC Milan in two ties between former winners of the competition.
Last season’s Europa League winners Atalanta, who finished one place outside the top eight which offered a direct path to the last 16, will face Club Brugge of Belgium.
Sporting of Portugal were drawn against last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund, while Monaco will take on Benfica having lost at home to the Portuguese club in the league phase.
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The play-off ties will take place next month, with the eight winners going through to the last 16 along with the eight highest-placed sides from the league phase.
Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Aston Villa are the sides already through to the last 16.
See full list of play-off and round of 16 draws below:
Draw for the Champions League knockout phase play-offs, made on Friday:
Brest (FRA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Club Brugge (BEL) v Atalanta (ITA)
Manchester City (ENG) v Real Madrid (ESP)
Juventus (ITA) v PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Monaco (FRA) v Benfica (POR)
Sporting (POR) v Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Celtic (SCO) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Feyenoord (NED) v AC Milan (ITA)
First legs to be played February 11/12, second legs February 18/19
Draw for the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will take place on February 21
Draw for the last 16 is based on a pre-determined bracket:
Brest or PSG v Liverpool (ENG) or Barcelona (ESP)
Club Brugge or Atalanta v Lille (FRA) or Aston Villa (ENG)
Man City or Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (ESP) or Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
Juventus or PSV v Arsenal (ENG) or Inter Milan (ITA)
Monaco or Benfica v Barcelona (ESP) or Liverpool (ENG)
Sporting or Dortmund v Aston Villa (ENG) or Lille (FRA)
Celtic or Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen (GER) or Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Feyenoord or AC Milan v Inter Milan (ITA) or Arsenal (ENG)
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