Image Credit: Champions League
Manchester City will face Real Madrid in the Champions League playoff round, marking their fourth consecutive meeting in the knockout stages. City, struggling this season, faces challenges, while Madrid has regained form. The first playoff legs will take place on February 11-12, 2025, with return legs from February 18-19.
In a highly anticipated Champions League playoff draw, Manchester City will face Real Madrid for the fourth consecutive season in the knockout stages. The teams' rivalry has been fierce, with Madrid edging out City on penalties in the quarterfinals last year after drawing both legs. City triumphed 5-1 on aggregate in 2023, ultimately securing the Champions League title after a historic treble.
This year, however, the stakes are different. City have faced some challenges this season, struggling to maintain their usual dominance with only three wins in the Champions League group stage. They have also fallen behind in the Premier League race, creating uncertainty ahead of this showdown. Meanwhile, Real Madrid, who started the season on a shaky note, have regained their rhythm with star player Kylian Mbappé leading the charge under Carlo Ancelotti's management.
Other notable matchups include Bayern Munich taking on Celtic and Paris Saint-Germain squaring off against Brest, another Ligue 1 rival.
The first legs of the playoff round will be held from February 11 to 12, with the return fixtures taking place the following week, between February 18 and 19. Meanwhile, the top eight finishers from the group stage, including Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, and Aston Villa, have already advanced to the round of 16, which will be drawn on February 21.
