The Ultimate Clash: Real Madrid vs Manchester City in the Champions League’s Knockout Phase

Real Madrid and Manchester City will face off in a highly anticipated Champions League knockout tie for the fourth consecutive year. Both teams failed to secure a top-eight finish in the new league-phase format, with Real placing 11th and City a disappointing 22nd.

The two powerhouses will now compete in a two-legged playoff, along with the teams that finished 9th to 24th, for a spot in the coveted last 16.

The rivalry between Real and City has intensified in recent years, with this being their fourth knockout tie since 2020. City boss Pep Guardiola expressed his sentiments on the draw, stating, “It feels like a derby already, four years in a row facing Real Madrid.”

Guardiola also acknowledged the difficulty of the matchup, noting that both Real and Bayern Munich would have been tough opponents. He added that his team hopes to arrive at the first leg in good form and carry that momentum into the second leg in Madrid.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, remain confident. Despite their early exit last season at the hands of City, the Spanish league leaders have a strong record against English clubs, eliminating them 13 times in the knockout stages. Real’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, downplayed their failure to finish in the top eight, stating that they have the resources to navigate the additional games.

The road ahead is challenging for both clubs, as the winner of their tie will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16. The playoffs also feature an all-French matchup between Paris St Germain and Brest, with the winner taking on Liverpool or Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan will face Dutch opposition in PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord, respectively. If they advance, they could potentially face Inter Milan or Arsenal in the next round.

The draw has set the stage for exciting matchups, with last year’s runners-up, Borussia Dortmund, taking on Sporting, and Club Brugge facing Atalanta.

UEFA Champions League Knockout Phase Playoff Draw. Photo: Reuters

Champions League Knockout Playoffs Draw 

Club Brugge vs Atalanta

Sporting vs Borussia Dortmund

Manchester City vs Real Madrid

Celtic vs Bayern Munich

Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven

Feyenoord vs AC Milan

Brest vs Paris St Germain

AS Monaco vs Benfica

Team mentioned second plays the second leg at home

UEFA Champions League Knockout Phase Playoff Draw. Photo: Reuters
UEFA Champions League Draw. Photo: Reuters

Key Dates:

Playoff first leg: Feb 11/12

Playoff second leg: Feb 18/19

Last 16 draw: Feb 21

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The post The Ultimate Clash: Real Madrid vs Manchester City in the Champions League’s Knockout Phase appeared first on https://vietexplorer.com.

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