FC Bayern will face Celtic Glasgow in the Champions League play-offs – and will thus avoid Manchester City. Borussia Dortmund will face Sporting.
Both FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund missed out on the top eight. Even before the play-off draw on Friday afternoon in Nyon, it was clear that Munich would face either Manchester City or Celtic Glasgow, and that Borussia would face Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge.
FC Bayern Munich has now been dealt by far the easier lot. The German record champions are avoiding ManCity and will face Celtic Glasgow. There have been four Champions League duels with the reigning Scottish double winners so far. Bayern has won three of them, most recently both group games in the 2017/18 season. Celtic’s only point against Munich dates back to November 2003.
“Celtic Glasgow stands for passion and fighting spirit, it will be a big challenge. Our goal is clearly to reach the last 16, for which we will have to give our all in both games,” said Bayern sporting director Max Eberl on the club website. Head coach Vincent Kompany warned of ‘a special place’.
Celtic have already had to play in Germany once this season – and lost 7-1 at BVB.
That BVB now faces Sporting from Lisbon. Here, too, four meetings in the premier class are in the Westphalians’ favor. Both group matches in the 2016/17 season and the first leg in 2021/22 went to Borussia. Dortmund only lost 3-1 in Portugal in November 2021. Dortmund will also play the first leg away from home and then have home advantage. “Sporting is a challenging draw and an exciting task. It will be a duel between equals, but with the second leg at home, we will take that on,” said sporting director Sebastian Kehl on the club’s website.
ManCity vs Real – Leverkusen is already in the last 16
The play-offs in the premier class will take place on February 11 and 12 (first leg) and February 18 and 19 (second leg). What makes this even more crucial for FC Bayern is that they face Bundesliga rivals Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Bundesliga showdown between now and the two deciding matches.
If they successfully survive the play-offs, the Champions League will then continue with the round of 16 starting on March 4. Leverkusen is already the only German team qualified for this.
Since Bayern is avoiding ManCity, there will be a (different) duel between two heavyweights: Pep Guardiola’s men will face defending champion Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Brest and PSG will face off in an all-French duel. Bruges will first host Europa League winner Bergamo, and Feyenoord will challenge Milan. Also: PSV Eindhoven against Juventus Turin and Monaco against Benfica.