Real Madrid will face Manchester City in a high-stakes clash in the Champions League knockout playoffs, pitting the last two title winners against each other. The draw, held on Friday, sets the stage for an epic showdown between the 2023 champions, Manchester City, and Real Madrid, the record 15-time European champions who last won in 2022.
The first leg will be hosted by Manchester City on February 11 or 12, with the return leg taking place in Madrid on February 18 or 19. The winner of this two-leg encounter will advance to the Round of 16, where they will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen, two teams that ranked among the top eight in the new 36-team league standings.
A Playoff Battle for Champions
The revamped Champions League format has introduced a playoff round for teams finishing between 9th and 24th in the league standings. Real Madrid, finishing 11th, secured their playoff spot alongside Manchester City, who narrowly qualified in 22nd place after a crucial 3-1 win over Club Brugge.
Manchester City’s low ranking meant they were destined to face a top-seeded team like Madrid or Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich will take on 21st-place Celtic in their playoff round.
Knockout Bracket Adds Intrigue
This season’s tennis-style knockout bracket allows teams from the same country to meet before the quarterfinals, breaking a long-standing restriction. As a result, Paris Saint-Germain has been paired with domestic rival Brest, who they will also face in a Ligue 1 match this weekend.
Other notable matchups include AC Milan facing Feyenoord and Juventus playing PSV Eindhoven, ensuring no national derbies for the Italian and Dutch clubs in the playoffs.
Path to the Round of 16
The winners of the playoff round will join the eight teams that secured direct qualification to the Round of 16. These teams include Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa.
Additional playoff fixtures include Club Brugge vs. Atalanta and Sporting Lisbon vs. Borussia Dortmund, further adding to the excitement of the knockout stage.
A Blockbuster Showdown
The Real Madrid vs. Manchester City fixture promises to be one of the most anticipated matches of the season, featuring two of Europe’s biggest football powerhouses. Both teams will be aiming to secure their path to the next round and continue their pursuit of Champions League glory.
Football fans worldwide will be eagerly watching as the two giants clash in February, with the stakes higher than ever in this new and unpredictable Champions League format.