Champions League 2024/25 play-offs: All that you need to know
31 Jan 2025

Manchester City will face 15-time European Cup winners Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League play-off round.

This is the fourth consecutive year the two football giants have been drawn against each other in the knockout stage.

The first match will be held at Manchester City's home ground, Etihad Stadium on February 11, with a return leg the following week in Spain.

Here is all that you need to know about the UCL play-offs.

Celtic to challenge Bayern Munich in play-off round
Celtic's match-up

In another high-profile match-up, Scottish Celtic will go head-to-head with Bayern Munich.

The first British club to lift the trophy in 1967, Celtic will host the initial game at Celtic Park.

The Bundesliga club will then welcome Brendan Rodgers's team at Allianz Arena for the second leg of this thrilling encounter.

Celtic finished 21st in the 36-team table. Meanwhile, Bayern claimed 12th position.

Potential opponents for Manchester City and Celtic revealed
Future match-ups

The winners of the clashes between Manchester City and Real Madrid, and Celtic and Bayern Munich, will take on either German outfit Bayer Leverkusen or Spanish side Atletico Madrid in the last 16.

Notably, Leverkusen and Atletico gained direct berths in the R16 as they finished in the top 8.

The draw for the round will take place on February 21, after the play-off ties are completed.

Key details of the other teams in the play-offs
Details

PSG, who finished 15th in the league stage, take on 18th-placed Brest.

Italian side Atalanta missed out on top 8 by a whisker. The ninth-placed side face 24th-placed Club Brugge.

Juventus, who finished a disappointing 20th, take on Dutch side PSV. PSV finished 14th in the league stage.

16th and 17th-placed sides, Benfica and Monaco, are placed against each other in the play-offs.

Last season's finalists, Dortmund, face a tough test against Sporting. 13th-placed Milan face Dutch side Feyenoord.

Here are the play-off ties
Clashes

Here are 16 teams in eight two-legged clashes for the play-offs.

Brest vs Paris Saint-Germain

Club Brugge vs Atalanta

Manchester City vs Real Madrid

Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven

Monaco vs Benfica

Sporting vs Borussia Dortmund

Celtic vs Bayern Munich

Feyenoord vs AC Milan

Understanding the Champions League play-off draw
Draw dynamics

The top eight finishers from the 36-team Champions League group table qualified directly to the last 16, while the bottom eight were eliminated.

The remaining 16 teams that finished between ninth and 24th place progressed into the play-offs.

These clubs were then split into four seeded pairs (ninth to 16th) and four unseeded pairs (17th to 24th) for the play-off draw.