Champions League Knockout Phase Draw Revealed
The UEFA Champions League knockout phase playoffs have been officially drawn in Nyon, setting the stage for exciting matchups between Europe’s elite clubs. Eight teams have directly qualified for the last 16, while teams ranked ninth through 24th will battle in two-legged playoff encounters.
Key Playoff Matchups:
• Club Brugge takes on Italian powerhouse Atalanta
• Sporting faces German giants Borussia Dortmund
• Manchester City clashes with Real Madrid in a heavyweight battle
• Celtic drawn against Bayern Munich
• Juventus meets PSV Eindhoven
• Feyenoord challenges AC Milan
• Brest encounters Paris Saint-Germain
• AS Monaco faces Portuguese side Benfica
Important Dates and Format
The knockout phase will follow a structured schedule:
1. First Leg Matches: February 11-12
2. Second Leg Matches: February 18-19
3. Last 16 Draw: February 21
Competition Format Details:
– Two-legged ties for each matchup
– Away goals rule applies
– Teams listed second will host the return leg
– Winners advance to the last 16 stage
The matchups present intriguing tactical battles, with established European powerhouses facing emerging challengers. The Manchester City vs Real Madrid fixture stands out as particularly compelling, featuring the current Premier League champions against the most successful club in Champions League history.
Several interesting storylines emerge from these pairings:
• Celtic’s challenge against Bayern Munich represents a classic David vs Goliath encounter
• Juventus’s European campaign continues against Dutch champions PSV
• Paris Saint-Germain’s pursuit of European glory faces an early test against Brest
• AC Milan’s historic pedigree meets Feyenoord’s rising ambitions
The competition’s format ensures dramatic moments across both legs, with teams needing to demonstrate both home and away performance capabilities. These matches will determine which clubs join the already-qualified teams in the prestigious round of 16.
