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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Nick Ames European sports correspondent

Champions League playoffs: Manchester City to face Madrid, Celtic land Bayern

The group formations are shown on an electronic panel in Nyon
Manchester City and Real Madrid faced each other in last season’s quarter-finals, with the Spanish giants winning on penalties at the Etihad Stadium. Photograph: Martial Trezzini/AP

Manchester City must overcome Real Madrid if they are to keep their Champions League hopes alive after the pair were drawn together for a blockbuster playoff tie.

In a fiendish consequence of City’s scratchy league phase, which saw them narrowly avoid early elimination by finishing 22nd, they will face the La Liga leaders and reigning European champions in February. Celtic have been dealt an equally tough assignment in the form of Bayern Munich. The playoff winners will all enter the round of 16 but there is no further safety net for those defeated.

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