Reigning champions Real Madrid will face struggling 2023 winners Manchester City in the Champions League playoff round, while Paris Saint-Germain will take on tournament newcomers Brest in an all-French clash.
Defending champions Real Madrid will renew their Champions League rivalry with 2023 winners Manchester City in a blockbuster knockout phase playoff tie after the two teams were pitted against each other in the draw held in Nyon on Friday.
Both Real and City failed to advance automatically to the last 16 as one of the top eight sides after they finished 11th and 22nd, respectively, in the new league-phase format.
Teams that finished ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged playoff to advance to the last 16.
Real and City have played each other in four knockout ties since 2020 and will be facing off for a fourth consecutive year. The Spanish league leaders will fancy their chances having eliminated English clubs in the knockout stages 13 times.
Although City thrashed the Spanish club 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals in 2023 en route to the treble, Real exacted revenge last year when they beat Pep Guardiola's side on penalties in the quarter-finals after two draws.
Last year's runners-up Borussia Dortmund take on Portuguese side Sporting while Club Brugge face Atalanta.
Champions League knockout playoffs draw
Club Brugge v Atalanta
Read more on FRANCE 24 English
Read also:
Champions League: Liverpool make it to last 16, Barcelona beat Benfica
Champions League: PSG beat Man City in stunning comeback
