Dale JohnsonJan 29, 2025, 05:42 PM ET
The draw for the knockout playoff round of the new-look UEFA Champions League is upon us.
And there is going to be a blockbuster knockout playoff round tie between Manchester City and Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.
Here's why.
When is the draw for the knockout playoff round?
The draw for the knockout playoff round will take place on Friday, Jan. 31 at 6 a.m. ET / 11 a.m. GMT at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
Why it mattered that Man City finished 22nd
League placings created the knockout bracket. Unlike in previous seasons, where there would be open draws, paths were set after the league phase was completed.
The new "seeding" system means the highest-placed teams can't face each other until the latter stages of the knockout round.
For instance, if we look at the final table, Liverpool and Barcelona finished first and second and cannot play each other until the final. The teams in third and fourth -- Arsenal and Internazionale -- can't play Liverpool or Barcelona until the semifinals.
However, the value of being placed high in the table has been complicated by poor European seasons for Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, who unexpectedly became possible opponents earlier in the knockout rounds.
Indeed, Man City finishing 22nd has created a heavyweight knockout playoff round tie -- as they must face 11th or 12th in the standings: Real Madrid or Bayern.
PSG, meanwhile, will have to take on Barcelona or Liverpool in the round of 16 if they get through.
How does the knockout draw work?
Teams are paired by their final position, in order (e.g. 9th and 10th, 11th and 12th, etc). Of each pair, teams will be drawn into opposite halves of the bracket. For instance, 11th (Real Madrid) and 12th (Bayern Munich) will split off and cannot play each other until the final (which is the case for all pairs).
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 21st (Celtic) or 22nd (Man City).
The eight unseeded teams are drawn first into a position in the bracket. This starts with 23rd and 24th, and moves down to 17th and 18th. In each case the first team drawn goes into the first half of the bracket (let's say Celtic), meaning the other club in the pair (which would be Man City) goes into the second half.
The draw then moves on to the seeded teams, continuing with 15th and 16th down to ninth and 10th. Again, the first team drawn goes into the first half of the bracket (so if that's Bayern, they'd be playing Celtic) -- which automatically creates a knockout playoff round fixture -- and so on with the other paired team into the second half (which makes Man City vs. Real Madrid).
The seeded clubs will play the second leg at home.
What dates are the knockout playoff round?
First legs: Feb. 11-12, 2025
Second legs: Feb. 18-19, 2025
Each club will play once on a Tuesday and once on a Wednesday.
