Man City and Celtic Discover Champions League Knockout Play-Off Opposition

Manchester City and Celtic have discovered their difficult opposition in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League’s Knockout Play-Offs. 

Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens snuck into the knockout play-offs in 22nd position after beating Club Brugge in their final league phase fixture, which has earned them a tough play-off tie against Real Madrid, who missed out on a top-eight finish and pass to the Round of 16 by just one point.

This tie will mark the fourth consecutive season that City and Real have been drawn together at one stage of the knockout stages.

Celtic meanwhile will take on Bayern Munich in a difficult contest where the Hoops will be serious underdogs, having progressed to the knockout phase for the first time since they reached 2021-22 Europa Conference League Play-Offs.

The winner of City’s tie will play either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 16, with Celtic or Bayern awaiting the other of those two teams.

Elsewhere, PSG will face an all French tie against Brest, having avoided Monaco who were instead handed a tie against Benfica.

The winners of those two ties will play either Liverpool or Barcelona in the Round of 16 once the draw is made on 21 February.

Club Brugge will look to spring a surprise after they were drawn against Atalanta whilst last season’s runner-up, Borussia Dortmund will face Sporting Lisbon, with either Lille or Aston Villa awaiting the winners of those two ties in the next stage.

There are two all Dutch vs Italian play-off ties after Juventus drew PSV and Feyenoord were drawn to face AC Milan, with the winners of both ties lying in wait for Arsenal or Inter Milan in the Last 16.

Knockout Play-Off ties will be played over two legs with the first legs held on either 11 or 12 February and the second legs scheduled for 18 or 19 February.