Champions League Draw: Why one City can meet Bayern, Real Madrid

A draw for the knockout playoff round of the new SEE UEFA Champions League is upon us.

And there’s going to be a blockbuster -knockout game between Manchester City and Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.

Here’s why.

When is the draw for the Knockout Playoff round?

A draw for the Knockout Playoff round will take place on Friday, January 31 at 1 p.m. 06.00 ET / 11 AM GMT in House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.

Why it means that City ended 22.

League locations created the knockout bracket. Unlike in previous seasons where there would be open features, paths were set after the league was completed.

The new “grafting” system means that the highest placed teams cannot meet each other until the latter stages of the knockout round.

For example, if we look at the final table, Liverpool and Barcelona ended first and second and can’t play each other before the final. The teams in the third and fourth – Arsenal and Internazional – cannot play Liverpool or Barcelona before the semi -finals.

However, the value of being placed high in the table has been complicated by bad European seasons for Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, which unexpectedly became possible opponents earlier in the knockout rounds.

In fact, City, which ends 22., has created a heavyweight Knockout Playoff round tie – as they have to face 11 or 12. In the position: Real Madrid or Bayern.

PSG, meanwhile, will have to take on Barcelona or Liverpool in the round of 16 if they come through.

How does the knockout work work?

Teams are paired by their final position in order (eg 9th and 10th, 11th and 12th, etc.). Of each pair, teams will be drawn into opposite halves of the bracket. For example, 11. (Real Madrid) and 12.

Before the draw, paired teams will have two possible opponents. If we take Real Madrid and Bayern again, they will be drawn to play either 21 (Celtic) or 22. (Man City).

The eight used teams are first drawn in a position in the bracket. This starts with 23rd and 24th and moves down to 17th and 18. In both cases, the first team draws in the first half of the bracket (let’s say Celtic), which means the other club in the couple (which Would be Man City) enters the second half.

Draw then move on to the seeded teams and continue with 15th and 16th down to the ninth and 10. Creates a knockout playoff luminaire -and so on with the other paired team in the second half (making City against Real Madrid).

The grafted clubs play the other leg at home.

What dates are the Knockout Playoff round?

First Ben: 11-12. February 2025
Other legs: 18-19 February 2025

Each club plays once on a Tuesday and once on a Wednesday.