NYON (Reuters) -Defending champions Real Madrid will play 2023 winners Manchester City in a blockbuster Champions League 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.
With teams from the same country also allowed to face each other, unlike in previous years, the playoffs will have an all-French tie with Paris St Germain facing Brest.
Juventus and AC Milan avoided each other in the draw, with the two Serie A sides facing Dutch clubs PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord, respectively.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE KNOCKOUT PLAYOFFS DRAW
Club Brugge v Atalanta
Sporting v Borussia Dortmund
Manchester City v Real Madrid
Celtic v Bayern Munich
Juventus v PSV Eindhoven
Feyenoord v AC Milan
Brest v Paris St Germain
AS Monaco v Benfica
*Team mentioned second plays second leg at home
DATES
Playoff first leg: Feb. 11/12
Playoff second leg: Feb. 18/19
Last 16 draw: Feb. 21
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru;Editing by Toby Davis)
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