The road to Munich is heating up as the UEFA Champions League moves into its knockout stages. With the play-off round set to begin, teams that finished between ninth and 24th in the league phase must battle it out over two legs to secure one of the remaining eight spots in the Round of 16. This season’s revamped format has already delivered surprises, and the next stage promises even more excitement as some of Europe’s biggest clubs prepare for decisive encounters.
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid – A Renewed Rivalry
One of the most highly anticipated clashes in the play-off round is between reigning champions Manchester City and 15-time winners Real Madrid. These two clubs have a rich history of dramatic encounters in the Champions League. In the 2022/23 semi-finals, City dismantled Real with a commanding 4-0 win at the Etihad before going on to lift the trophy. However, the Spanish giants exacted revenge in the 2023/24 quarter-finals, edging past City on penalties after a thrilling 4-4 aggregate draw.
This latest showdown marks the fourth consecutive season that Pep Guardiola’s City and Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid will meet in the competition. Both sides are packed with world-class talent, and the winner of this tie will go on to face either Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 16.
Celtic Faces a Tough Test Against Bayern Munich
Scottish champions Celtic will have their work cut out as they go head-to-head with German powerhouse Bayern Munich. The two clubs last met in the 2017/18 Champions League group stage, where Bayern secured victories in both fixtures. Now, under new management, Celtic hopes to produce an upset against a Bayern squad eager to reach the final at their home ground in Munich.
Should Celtic manage to overcome the Bundesliga giants, they will face either Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the next round. It’s a daunting challenge, but in football, anything is possible.
Possible Opponents for Liverpool, Arsenal, and Aston Villa
Liverpool, Arsenal, and Aston Villa have already secured their places in the last 16 by finishing in the top eight of the league phase. However, they must wait until the play-off round concludes to discover their opponents.
Liverpool, who topped the league phase standings, will face the winner of either Paris Saint-Germain vs. Brest or Benfica vs. Monaco.
Arsenal, finishing third in the standings, will take on the winner of PSV Eindhoven vs. Juventus or AC Milan vs. Feyenoord.
Aston Villa, who sealed their spot in the top eight with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Celtic, will meet the victor of Club Brugge vs. Atalanta or Sporting CP vs. Borussia Dortmund.
Full UEFA Champions League Knockout Play-off Draw
The draw has set up some fascinating matchups that will determine which teams advance to the last 16:
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Brest
Benfica vs. Monaco
(Winners face either Liverpool or Barcelona in the last 16)
PSV Eindhoven vs. Juventus
AC Milan vs. Feyenoord
(Winners face either Arsenal or Internazionale in the last 16)
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City
Bayern Munich vs. Celtic
(Winners face either Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16)
Club Brugge vs. Atalanta
Sporting CP vs. Borussia Dortmund
(Winners face either Aston Villa or Lille in the last 16)
The first legs of these ties will take place on February 11 and 12, with the return fixtures scheduled for February 18 and 19.
How the New Bracket Format Works
This season’s Champions League knockout stage follows a bracket format, which changes the traditional match-pairing system. Here’s how it works:
The top eight teams from the league phase automatically qualify for the Round of 16.
Teams finishing between 9th and 16th in the league phase are seeded, while those placing 17th to 24th are unseeded.
Unseeded teams are drawn first, determining their position in the bracket. The seeded teams are then paired accordingly.
Clubs that were “linked” in the play-off draw (such as Bayern and Real Madrid) will be placed on opposite sides of the bracket. This ensures they cannot meet again until the final.
For example, when Manchester City and Celtic finished 21st and 22nd, they already knew they would face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, who finished 11th and 12th. Once the draw was made, City and Real Madrid landed on one side of the bracket, while Bayern and Celtic were placed on the other. This setup creates a clear path to the final, adding another strategic layer to the tournament.
Can Teams from the Same League Face Each Other?
Yes, from the play-off round onwards, teams from the same national association can be drawn against one another. This has already happened in the current draw, with Paris Saint-Germain set to face Ligue 1 rivals Brest.
Further down the line, there is also potential for all-English or all-Italian clashes. For instance, if Liverpool and Arsenal progress, they could eventually meet in a later stage of the tournament.
Looking Ahead to the Round of 16
The knockout phase play-offs will determine the final eight teams advancing to the last 16. With the bracket format in place, teams will have a clear view of their possible opponents in the next rounds.
If Manchester City or Real Madrid win, they will take on either Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen.
The winner of Bayern Munich vs. Celtic will also face one of those two clubs.
Liverpool, if victorious in their tie, could face Barcelona, setting up another potential European classic.
Arsenal will likely meet a heavyweight opponent, with Internazionale among the possible teams in their path.
As teams gear up for their crucial play-off clashes, the stakes have never been higher. With the Champions League final set to take place in Munich, every club still in the competition will be dreaming of lifting the coveted trophy.
The next few weeks promise intense battles, tactical masterclasses, and unforgettable football moments as the world’s best teams fight to stay in the tournament. Football fans worldwide will be eagerly watching as the Champions League delivers another thrilling chapter.