Reigning title holders Real Madrid are set to clash with the 2023 champions Manchester City in a standout fixture of this season’s Champions League play-off round, following the draw on Friday.
This marks the fourth consecutive year these two giants have been matched in a knockout round, with Real Madrid prevailing in last season’s quarter-final penalty shoot-out.
Manchester City, having narrowly advanced after finishing 22nd in the league phase under the newly introduced format of Europe’s premier club competition, will host the first leg before the decisive return match in Spain.
In other exciting matchups, Scottish champions Celtic, who have reached the knockout stages for the first time in 12 years, are drawn against six-time European champions Bayern Munich.
Paris Saint-Germain will encounter the unexpected challengers Brest in an all-French affair, while Juventus faces PSV Eindhoven, and Feyenoord meets AC Milan in contests between past champions.
Last season’s Europa League victors Atalanta, who narrowly missed a direct last 16 berth by finishing ninth, are paired with Belgium’s Club Brugge.
Sporting of Portugal will face last year’s finalists Borussia Dortmund, and Monaco is set against Benfica after a home defeat to the Portuguese team during the league phase.
These play-off ties are scheduled for next month, with the eight victorious teams progressing to join the top eight league phase finishers in the last 16.
The sides already secured in the last 16 include Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa, all of whom topped their groups in the extensive 36-team league stage.
The competition’s draw is partially pre-determined from the last 16 onward, meaning the winner of the City vs. Real Madrid tie will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the subsequent round.
The draw for the last 16 and beyond is set for February 21. The outcome will reveal whether Liverpool can capitalize on finishing first in the league phase. Arne Slot’s team will meet either PSG, Brest, Monaco, or Benfica in the last 16 this March.
The climax of this season’s Champions League will unfold at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Saturday, May 31.
