Bragging rights will be on the line as defending champions Real Madrid take on Premier League champions Manchester City in a blockbuster Champions League playoff, featuring 10 past European Cup champions.
The league phase of the revamped Champions League format came to a dramatic end on Wednesday — which saw 18 matches played simultaneously — as Aston Villa snuck inside the top eight, securing an automatic qualification spot to the last 16 of Europe’s elite club competition.
Man City finished an embarrassing 22nd in the league phase after suffering three defeats against PSG, Juventus, and Sporting CP, while Madrid finished one point behind the qualification spot in 11th.
The draw sets up the fifth two-legged tie between City and Madrid in the last six seasons. Last year, Madrid ended City’s hopes of retaining the Champions League as they won in a penalty shoot-out at the Etihad in the quarter-finals. The winners of this game are likely to face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
Besides Real Madrid’s encounter against Manchester City, the play-offs will witness Bayern Munich taking on Celtic, while PSG go up against French rivals Brest.
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Knockout phase play-offs:
- Club Brugge (BEL) vs Atalanta (ITA)
- Sporting CP (POR) vs Borussia Dortmund (GER)
- Manchester City (ENG) vs Real Madrid (ESP)
- Celtic (SCO) vs Bayern Munich (GER)
- Juventus (ITA) vs PSV (NED)
- Feyenoord (NED) vs Milan (ITA)
- Brest (FRA) vs Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
- Monaco (FRA) vs Benfica (POR)
The first legs of these maiden play-offs will take place on Tuesday, 11 February, and Wednesday, 12 February. The reverse fixtures will be held one week later, on 18-19 February, followed by the last 16 draw two days later.
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