Real Madrid and Manchester City will renew their rivalry in the Champions League knockout playoffs, marking a historic moment as they face off earlier than ever before. This matchup will feature the exciting duel between Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, two of football’s brightest stars.
Both clubs, considered heavyweights in European football, had a challenging time in the new eight-game league phase. Their pairing was the highlight of Friday’s draw for the knockout playoffs. City found themselves needing to compete against either Bayern Munich or the defending champions, Real Madrid.
Over the past nine years, Madrid and City have clashed in three semifinals and one quarterfinal, with the victor each time going on to secure the coveted trophy. This time, however, the stakes are different as they engage in a two-leg playoff solely for the chance to enter the round of 16, following both teams’ struggles to secure a top-eight finish in the league.
“The draw is the draw and we have to accept it,” remarked Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno. He expressed confidence in the challenge City poses, emphasizing that under Pep Guardiola’s management, they are always a formidable opponent.
Manchester City, the reigning champions, will host the first leg in Manchester on February 11 or 12, with the return fixture set for February 18 or 19. Meanwhile, Real Madrid, fresh off their record-extending 15th European title, has bolstered their squad with the addition of Mbappé.
The winner of this thrilling encounter will face either Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen, who finished fifth and sixth in the standings. Other notable teams advancing to the round of 16 include Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Lille, and Aston Villa.
Teams that placed from ninth to 24th in the standings will enter the two-leg knockout playoffs. The draw also saw Celtic matched against Bayern Munich, Brest facing Paris Saint-Germain, and Monaco set to compete against Benfica, among other fixtures.
Real Madrid finished 11th while Manchester City narrowly qualified in 22nd place after a crucial 3-1 victory over Club Brugge. Knowing their position, City anticipated facing either Madrid or Bayern in the playoffs, with Bayern ultimately drawn against Celtic.
Bayern sporting director Christophe Freund noted the unusual situation of having four European champions, boasting a combined 23 titles, in the same section of the draw before the round of 16 even begins.
The new format of the competition allows for teams from the same country to meet in the knockout phase, a departure from the previous two decades. This change has led to intriguing matchups, including PSG facing Brest, which they will also play in Ligue 1 just days later.
Monaco’s chief executive, Thiago Scuro, commented on the potential for too many matches against the same rivals, highlighting the delicate balance of scheduling in European competitions.
In the Italian and Dutch matchups, AC Milan will face Feyenoord, while Juventus takes on PSV Eindhoven, a rematch from earlier in the group stage where Juventus triumphed 3-1.
The draw for the round of 16 on February 21 will determine the knockout bracket leading to the final on May 31 at Bayern Munich’s stadium, promising an exciting conclusion to this season’s Champions League campaign.
