Real Madrid and Manchester City, two of Europe’s most storied clubs, are set to face each other once again this season in a thrilling round of UEFA Champions League knockout matches. The Spanish giants, record champions with fifteen European titles under their belt, will be hosting the Premier League club at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium next month, ahead of an anticipated return leg in England one week later.
This is not the first time these rivals have crossed paths within the competition’s knockout stages: Real Madrid previously defeated Manchester City in a play-off match last season. This season, they earned their advancement through the tournament’s qualifying rounds, overcoming Benfica with a 3-1 aggregate score. On the other side of the spectrum lies Paris Saint-Germain, who secured their place at this stage by defeating Ligue 1 rivals Monaco 5-4 in the play-offs. The French club has a proud history as Champions League winners from 2023 and are looking to build upon that legacy.
Chelsea will also face off against PSG, with the Blues boasting an impressive track record within the competition itself. Under coach Liam Rosenior, who previously coached Strasbourg before taking charge of Chelsea, they have advanced directly through the play-offs, narrowly edging out Monaco 5-4 on aggregate. Their last encounter came in July’s Club World Cup final, where Chelsea triumphed with a decisive 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United prepares for an intriguing matchup against Barcelona at St James’ Park. The Spanish club emerged victorious in that previous season’s league phase match with a 2-1 win. This marks the third consecutive year in which these clubs have squared off within the Champions League knockout stages—a testament to their ongoing rivalry and historical significance.
Arsenal, who are currently pitted against Bayer Leverkusen, also feature prominently in this upcoming round of matches. Tottenham Hotspur will meet Atletico Madrid in a high-stakes encounter. On the other hand, German giants Bayern Munich have secured their spot with a direct entry into the last 16 after finishing sixth in the league phase. Norwegian newcomers Bodo/Glimt, who defeated Italian giants Inter Milan earlier this season, face off against Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon for their first Champions League appearance.
The tournament’s format sees all teams competing from top eight finishes receiving home advantage in their second leg matches. The first legs will be contested on March 10 and 11, with the second encounters taking place a week later. As these sides vie to progress further into Europe’s premier club competition, the excitement is palpable once again as they rekindle historic ties and prepare for more nail-biting encounters.