Fri Jan 31 12:28:36 UTC 2025: ## Champions League Draw Pitches Real Madrid Against Manchester City in Blockbuster Clash
**Nyon, Switzerland** – The UEFA Champions League playoff draw has delivered a mouth-watering clash between defending champions Real Madrid and 2024 winners Manchester City. The two-legged tie will see the last two victors of the competition battle it out for a place in the last 16.
The draw, held in Nyon on Friday, concluded the group stage which saw Liverpool top the table and Barcelona finish second. Real Madrid, who finished a surprising 11th in their group, and Manchester City, who secured their knockout spot on the final matchday in 22nd place, are among the teams ranked 9th to 24th competing in the playoffs.
Other notable pairings include Brest versus Paris Saint-Germain, and Monaco versus Benfica in an all-French affair. Bayern Munich will face Celtic, while the winners of the Real Madrid-Manchester City tie will potentially face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the next round. Liverpool and Barcelona are also set to meet in the last 16 if they both progress.
The playoff matches are scheduled for February 11-12 and 18-19, with the last 16 to follow on March 4-5 and 11-12. The final will be held at the Munich Football Arena on May 31st. This year’s competition boasts a record prize pot of nearly €2.5 billion, with the winning team set to receive over €86 million.
First Piper 