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Man City to face Real Madrid in UCL play-off as Celtic meet Bayern

Manchester City will face holders Real Madrid in a blockbuster Champions League play-off with Celtic taking on Bayern Munich in a bid to reach the last 16.

Having beaten Club Brugge 3-1 in their final league-phase game to scrape through to the next round, Pep Guardiola’s side must go up against the 15-time European champions in the glamour tie of the play-off round.

City’s draw against Madrid means that Celtic will go up against Bayern Munich, now managed by former City captain Vincent Kompany.

The draw on Friday sets up the fifth two-legged tie between City and Madrid in the last six seasons.

Last year, Madrid ended City’s hopes of retaining the Champions League as they won in a penalty shoot-out at the Etihad in the quarter-finals.

The year before, City defeated Madrid in the semi-finals on their way to completing a treble, conquering Europe for the first time in the club’s history.

The winners of the tie will advance to face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16. The same applies for Celtic should they progress against Bayern.

The first legs of the knockout play-off round take place on February 11-12 with the return legs a week later.

Man City avoid exit as Arsenal, Liverpool reach Champions League last 16

The draw for the last 16 is on February 21, two days after the play-off round finishes.

Aston Villa snuck into the top eight by the skin of their teeth after Atalanta failed to beat Barcelona and dropped into the play-offs, meaning Unai Emery’s side will face one of Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting, or Club Brugge in the last 16.

Liverpool top the overall table and will now face one of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Benfica, Monaco, or Brest.

Arsenal could face AC Milan, PSV, Feyenoord, or Juventus as their possible last-16 opponents.

Below is the full draw of the UCL play-off:

Club Brugge v Atalanta
Sporting CP v Borussia Dortmund
Manchester City v Real Madrid
Celtic v Bayern Munchen
Juventus v PSV
Feyenoord v AC Milan
Brest v Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
Monaco v Benfica

The Star

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