Reigning champions Real Madrid will take on 2023 winners Manchester City in the standout tie of the Champions League knockout playoff round following Friday’s draw. This marks the fourth consecutive season the two European giants have met in the competition’s knockout stages, with Real Madrid emerging victorious in a penalty shoot-out in last season’s quarter-finals.
Manchester City, who finished 22nd in the league phase of this season’s newly formatted tournament, will host the first leg before traveling to Spain for the return fixture.
Elsewhere, Scottish champions Celtic have been drawn against six-time European Cup winners Bayern Munich, marking their first knockout stage appearance in 12 years.
In other matchups, Paris Saint-Germain will face surprise package Brest in an all-French contest, while former champions Juventus take on PSV Eindhoven, and Feyenoord battle AC Milan.
Atalanta, last season’s Europa League winners, will play Belgian side Club Brugge after narrowly missing out on a direct spot in the last 16. Meanwhile, Sporting CP will meet last year’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund, and Monaco will face Benfica, whom they lost to in the league phase.
The playoff ties are set for next month, with winners advancing to the last 16, where they will join the top eight teams from the league phase: Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa.
Full Playoff Round Draw:
Brest (FRA) vs. Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Club Brugge (BEL) vs. Atalanta (ITA)
Manchester City (ENG) vs. Real Madrid (ESP)
Juventus (ITA) vs. PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Monaco (FRA) vs. Benfica (POR)
Sporting CP (POR) vs. Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Celtic (SCO) vs. Bayern Munich (GER)
Feyenoord (NED) vs. AC Milan (ITA)
First-leg matches will be played on February 11 and 12, with the return fixtures on February 18 and 19. The draw for the last 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals will take place on February 21.
