preCharge News Sports – Manchester City’s victory over Club Brugge on Wednesday sealed their 22nd-place finish in the 2024/25 Champions League league phase. As a result, they will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the knockout phase play-off round in February.

The official draw, set for 11:00 AM (UK) on Friday, January 31, in Nyon, Switzerland, will confirm their opponent. Fans can follow the announcement and post-draw analysis on preCharge News.

How the New Champions League Format Works

UEFA’s 2024/25 format change has restructured qualification for the knockout rounds. The top eight teams after the league phase have progressed directly to the Round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th must battle through a two-legged play-off. Those finishing 25th to 36th are eliminated from the tournament.

Play-Off Draw Mechanics

Teams placed 9th-16th are seeded and will face an unseeded team (17th-24th). The seeded team plays the second leg at home. Since City finished 22nd, they are set to battle either 9th-placed Real Madrid or 10th-placed Bayern Munich.

The draw begins with unseeded teams being assigned to pre-determined pairings before the seeded teams are allocated their matches.

Who Else Is in the Play-Off Round?

Other notable teams include Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, PSV, PSG, Benfica, Monaco, Brest, Feyenoord, Juventus, Celtic, Sporting CP, and Club Brugge.

Who Has Already Qualified for the Round of 16?

The eight teams that secured direct passage include Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa.

Key Dates for the Champions League Knockout Stages

• Play-Off Matches: February 11/12 & 18/19
• Round of 16 Draw: February 21
• Round of 16 Matches: March 4/5 & 11/12
• Quarter-Finals: April 8/9 & 15/16
• Semi-Finals: April 29/30 & May 6/7
• Final (Munich): May 31

If Manchester City progress, they will face Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 16. The full knockout stage path will be revealed during the February 21 draw.