By admin 
Manchester City were handed the toughest possible tie in the Champions League knockout play-off round as they face holders Real Madrid.
City struggled through the league phase and needed to come behind to beat Club Brugge on Wednesday to squeak into a top-24 place.
We will face Real Madrid in the @ChampionsLeague knockout phase play-off! 💪 pic.twitter.com/rweVSjUUk0
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 31, 2025
That left them facing a two-legged tie against either Bayern Munich or 15-time winners Real – and it was the Spanish giants who came out of the hat.
Bayern instead face Celtic, while AC Milan avoided a tie against Juventus but newcomers Brest were handed a tricky all-French tie against improving PSG.
City were knocked out by Real last season at the quarter-final stage. The sides drew 3-3 in the first leg in Madrid and 1-1 at the Etihad, before Real won 4-3 on penalties.
The two-legged ties will be held in the weeks of 11 February and 18 February.
A full look at the Champions League play-offs 🔍#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/FVqDpuFH2j
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 31, 2025
Should City progress they will play either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16.
Liverpool will play the winners of Brest v PSG or the winners of Monaco v Benfica. Aston Villa will face whoever wins Sporting v Borussia Dortmund or Club Brugge v Atalanta, and Arsenal will face the winners of Juventus v PSV or the winners of Feyenoord v AC Milan.
The draw for that round of 16 will take place in February.
Play-off draw in full
- Club Brugge v Atalanta
- Sporting v Borussia Dortmund
- Manchester City v Real Madrid
- Celtic v Bayern Munich
- Juventus v PSV
- Feyenoord v AC Milan
- Brest v Paris St-Germain
- Monaco v Benfica