February

Pep Guardiola has instructed his Manchester Metropolis gamers to anticipate no favours with the fixture schedule after touchdown a Champions League play-off tie in opposition to Actual Madrid that left his aspect dealing with a bruising, make-or-break February.

Metropolis are resulting from face Actual over two legs for a spot within the Champions League spherical of 16 after being paired with the 15-time European champions within the choose of .

They are going to mark Metropolis’s ninth and tenth conferences with the Madrid giants since Guardiola took cost on the Etihad Stadium in 2016.

Metropolis’s Premier League showdown at Arsenal on Sunday will probably be their first of seven matches in 25 days in February however Guardiola has instructed his squad they need to know from expertise that the broadcasters and authorities will do nothing to ease a frenetic schedule.

After Arsenal, Metropolis face Leyton Orient within the FA Cup fourth spherical with the go to of Newcastle within the league in between the 2 video games in opposition to Actual, the primary leg of which will probably be on the Etihad.

Metropolis are resulting from journey to the Bernabéu for the second leg in the identical week they host Liverpool within the league, with Tottenham their remaining opponents in February three days later.

“It [Real] appears to be like like a derby already – 4 years in a row dealing with Madrid,” Guardiola stated. “We’re already there within the quantity of inauspicious video games. The schedule is what it’s. At all times they put the hardest schedules for the European groups within the necessary levels, in essentially the most tough ones.

“You’re OK to play in opposition to Actual Madrid – the issue is within the center you might have Newcastle. At all times they’re so variety for the calendar. For a lot of, a few years it all the time occurred that manner.”

Supervisor says schedule places English golf equipment at drawback

Guardiola was left seething final season when Metropolis’s FA Cup semi-final in opposition to Chelsea at Wembley was scheduled for 3 days after a quarter-final, second leg in opposition to Actual – – when the Chelsea recreation might have been performed 24 hours afterward the Sunday.

Requested if he anticipated any assist round scheduling, the Metropolis supervisor replied: “Are you asking me that query after a few years right here? Come on, don’t put a query to me the place I’ve to say one thing rude.

“It’s complaining as a result of we had an unbelievable success coping with this calendar. However don’t make me that query. It’s a shock for you? As a result of it’s all the time been like that.

“Final season we performed within the quarter-finals in opposition to Madrid and three days later we had the FA Cup semi-final in Wembley, the place we might have yet another day. So all the time it has been like that.

“Once I was in Barcelona and I adopted the Premier League, Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Arsène Wenger all made the identical complaints. So now you can’t ask me concerning the calendar as a result of it’s [an issue] from a protracted, very long time in the past.

“There are leagues that play on Friday earlier than the Champions League. They play on Friday in Portugal, they play on Friday in France to have yet another.

“The draw may very well be nicer however the draw is the draw. Madrid is extraordinarily tough. We all know that. And we’re going to play with a three-day, two-day restoration, 4 days. It doesn’t matter as a result of we have now executed it previously. We’ve handled this sort of unbelievable schedule for a few years so it’s not an issue.”

Spaniard denies unhealthy blood with Arteta

Metropolis and Arsenal had been concerned in a fractious 2-2 draw on the Etihad in September when Bernardo Silva claimed the Premier League champions had been “the one one group that got here to play soccer” after slamming their opponents’ darkish arts and John Stones branded the north London membership a “soiled” group.

Declan Rice was despatched off within the recreation, Rodri suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament that would hold him out for the season and , sparking an enormous melee.

Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta hit again at Metropolis’s criticism of his aspect’s ways by claiming he had “all the knowledge” concerning the strategies employed by his former membership.

Guardiola denied Arsenal had grow to be a grudge match and dismissed any suggestion of unhealthy blood with Arteta, his good friend and former assistant.

“Distinctive – with him and his household, distinctive,” Guardiola stated of their relationship. “In fact we’re not in contact a lot as a result of I’ve enterprise, I’ve different video games. However the respect that we have now is all the time there.”

Metropolis’s kind has nosedived with out Rodri however Guardiola insisted their issues had been right down to greater than the Spaniard’s absence and forged doubt on the participant’s hopes of returning this season.

“The absence of Rodri is huge however the state of affairs that we had this season was not simply [about] Rodri. It was many different issues,” he stated.

“At all times with the lengthy accidents there’s a time that have to be revered. The ACL is ACL for each soccer participant, each athlete. What I stated is a very powerful factor proper now could be to recuperate nicely.

“. He would like to play tomorrow. However the our bodies are the our bodies. Restoration wants its personal time. However he’s going very well. He feels actually good. And step-by-step we’ll see.”

Champions League draw verdict: Man Metropolis to beat Actual Madrid and PSV to trigger an upset

will face within the play-offs for the knock-out part of the .

Having of their remaining league-phase recreation to scrape by to the following spherical, Pep Guardiola’s aspect should go up in opposition to the 15-time European champions within the glamour tie of the play-off spherical.

Metropolis’s draw in opposition to Actual signifies that will go up in opposition to , now managed by former Metropolis captain Vincent Kompany.

The draw units up the fifth two-legged tie between Metropolis and Actual within the final six seasons. Final 12 months Madrid ended Metropolis’s hopes of retaining the Champions League as they on the Etihad within the quarter-finals.

The 12 months earlier than, Metropolis beat Actual within the semi-finals on their method to finishing the treble, conquering Europe for the primary time within the membership’s historical past.

The winners of the tie will advance to face both Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen within the final 16.

Juventus had been drawn in opposition to PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord had been paired with AC Milan, whereas Membership Brugge will face Atalanta.

There’s an all-French tie between Brest and Paris St-Germain, Monaco will tackle Benfica, and Sporting had been drawn in opposition to Borussia Dortmund.

Right here, Telegraph Sport predicts who will make it by to the spherical of 16…

Man Metropolis v Actual Madrid

Pep Guardiola could have new signings in his squad, gamers again from harm and revenge on his thoughts after shedding on penalties to Actual final season. Winner: Manchester Metropolis

Celtic v Bayern Munich

Vincent Kompany’s group are main the Bundesliga and will probably be relieved at avoiding Metropolis. Ought to have an excessive amount of high quality for Celtic. Winner: Bayern

Membership Brugge v Atalanta

The Belgians confirmed within the first half in opposition to Metropolis that they shouldn’t be underestimated however Atalanta have demonstrated glorious kind this season. Winner: Atalanta

Sporting CP v Borussia Dortmund

The Portuguese group have been by a supervisor already since Ruben Amorim’s departure – however Dortmund’s kind isn’t any higher, they usually too have allotted with man within the dugout. Dortmund’s new-manager bounce to triumph. Winner: Borussia Dortmund

Brest v PSG

The shock package deal of the group stage couldn’t have requested for a worse draw, with PSG constructing momentum within the competitors by beating Metropolis. Winner: PSG

Monaco v Benfica

Third within the French league in opposition to the aspect second in Portugual – a reasonably evenly matched tie that Benfica may edge. Winner: Benfica

PSV Eindhoven v Juventus

Potential “shock” right here, given historical past of competitors. PSV main the Dutch league whereas Juve have struggled for consistency.Winner: PSV

Feyenoord v AC Milan

The 2 golf equipment are negotiating over Santiago Giménez’s switch – the ahead can be an enormous loss for the Dutch aspect. Winner: AC Milan

12:26 PM GMTBrest disappointment

Of the opposite ties it’s an unlucky state of affairs for Brest who, of their first ever foray in Champions League, have ended up escaping the endlessly PSG-dominated Ligue 1 by being drawn to play PSG – a group they haven’t overwhelmed in 16 makes an attempt.

Sporting in opposition to Borussia Dortmund guarantees to be an absorbing conflict between two sides who’ve impressed in Europe lately.

However in fact the play-off glamour ties are briefly provide as we have now been denied Juventus v AC Milan, which might have been a traditional. Identical to the 2003 Champions League remaining which completed, erm, 0-0.

It does all set issues up properly for the spherical of 16 although.

Thanks for following. Till subsequent time.

12:15 PM GMTCity’s difficult fixture schedule

With Man Metropolis nonetheless concerned within the FA Cup, the 2 Madrid ties make their congested fixtures schedule much more gruelling.

Their Champions League play-off ties with Actual Madrid come instantly earlier than dwelling matches within the Premier League in opposition to Newcastle United and Liverpool.

Feb 2: Arsenal (a) Premier LeagueFeb 8: Leyton Orient (a) FA Cup fourth roundFeb 11/12: Actual Madrid (h) Champions League play-off first-legFeb 15: Newcastle (h) Premier LeagueFeb 18/19: Actual Madrid (a) Champions League play-off second-legFeb 23: Liverpool (h) Premier LeagueFeb 26: Tottenham (a) Premier League

12:05 PM GMTHow the last-16 may look

Elsewhere within the draw:

Juventus had been pitted in opposition to PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord had been paired with AC Milan, whereas Membership Brugge will face Atalanta.

There’s an all-French tie between Brest and Paris St Germain, Monaco will tackle Benfica, and Sporting had been drawn in opposition to Borussia Dortmund.

From Arsenal’s viewpoint there’s the potential for each Dutch sides, PSV or Feyenoord, or each Italian sides, AC Milan or Juventus, getting knocked out as they had been saved aside within the draw.

Brest vs PSG (for the fitting to play Liverpool or Barcelona)Monaco vs Benfica (for the fitting to play Liverpool or Barcelona)Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven (for the fitting to play Arsenal or Inter Milan)Feyenoord vs Milan (for the fitting to play Arsenal or Inter Milan)Man Metropolis vs Actual Madrid (for the fitting to play Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen)Celtic vs Bayern (for the fitting to play Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen)Membership Brugge vs Atalanta (for the fitting to play Lille or Aston Villa) Sporting CP vs Borussia Dortmund (for the fitting to play Lille or Aston Villa)

11:58 AM GMTMan Metropolis v Actual Madrid: Half V

The draw units up the fifth two-legged tie between Metropolis and Madrid within the final six seasons. Final 12 months Madrid ended Metropolis’s hopes of retaining the Champions League as they beat them in a penalty shoot-out on the Etihad within the quarter-finals.

The 12 months earlier than, Metropolis overcame Madrid within the semi-finals on their method to finishing a treble, as they conquered Europe for the primary time within the membership’s historical past.

The winners of the tie will advance to face both Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen within the final 16.

11:29 AM GMTAnd that concludes the draw

That was very quick and candy – the fits have referred to as it a day.

However there’s no debate concerning the headline draw there.

Metropolis would have wished to prevented the holders and 15-time winners Actual Madrid however such are the pitfall of an abysmal first-round marketing campaign.

Celtic followers received’t precisely be dancing within the streets of Glasgow however they will surely have most popular the German champions to Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé et al.

The draw has additionally spared Vincent Kompany, Bayern’s supervisor, a reunion together with his former aspect.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa must wait till the draw on 21 February to seek out out who they may play and which aspect of the bracket they are going to be drawn. Clearly, two of their 4 potential opponents could have been knockout by then.

11:24 AM GMTMan Metropolis draw Actual Madrid!

Man Metropolis v Actual MadridCeltic v BayernClub Brugge v AtalantaSporting CP v Borussia Dortmund

11:23 AM GMTItalian golf equipment saved aside for now

Brest v PSGMonaco v BenficaJuventus v PSV EindhovenFeyenoord v Milan

11:18 AM GMTSeeded groups to be drawn first

Unseeded groups will probably be drawn first after which the seeded groups will emerge second, every to be assigned to the blue or silver aspect of the bracket.

11:16 AM GMTThiago in the home

The particular visitor for at this time’s proceedings is the lately retired Thiago Alcantara, veteran of 80 Champions League appearances and a two-time Champions League winner, who says he has been impressed by the ways employed by Atalanta and Monaco, and the way they place their gamers on the sphere, with a particular point out additionally for Leverkusen, Lille and Aston Villa. Pinto says he seems like a coach already and you may simply think about him coming to a Champions League dug-out quickly.

11:09 AM GMTCue: the music

The Champions League theme is in full throng and the digicam cuts to the inimitable Pedro Pinto who’s our dependable MC for the massive present.

We’re proven the objectives, the stats, the 16 golf equipment within the at this time’s draw and the juices are flowing.

After which the digicam pans round to a semi-empty convention corridor wherein a set of ageing, ruddy-faced white males in fits seemingly questioning why they’re there. It’s a slight comedown.

However that’s OK, people, now please welcome on stage deputy secretary basic of Uefa, Giorgio Marchetti… Giorgio Marchetti everybody…

10:59 AM GMTPlay-off draw breakdown

The draw will get underneath manner in 5 minutes (give or take the usual, long-winded, besuited, bureaucratic guffery).

It should determine the fixtures for the play-offs solely

The play-off fixtures will probably be determined over two legs

First legs: 11/12 February; Second legs: 18/19 February 2025

The draw for the spherical of 16 takes place on Friday 21 February

10:54 AM GMTThe permutations as they stand

The Premier League golf equipment already by know the 4 golf equipment they might face within the spherical of 16.

Monaco or Brest vs. Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica (for the fitting to play Liverpool or Barcelona)

Sporting Lisbon or Membership Brugge vs. Atalanta or Borussia Dortmund (for the fitting to play Lille or Aston Villa)

Celtic or Manchester Metropolis vs. Actual Madrid or Bayern Munich (for the fitting to play Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen)

Feyenoord or Juventus vs. AC Milan or PSV Eindhoven (for the fitting to play Arsenal or Inter Milan)

Brest or Monaco vs. Benfica or Paris Saint-Germain (for the fitting to play Barcelona or Liverpool)

Membership Brugge or Sporting Lisbon vs. Borussia Dortmund or Atalanta (for the fitting to play Aston Villa or Lille)

Manchester Metropolis or Celtic vs. Bayern Munich or Actual Madrid (for the fitting to play Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid)

Juventus or Feyenoord vs. PSV Eindhoven or AC Milan (for the fitting to play Inter Milan or Arsenal)

So, for instance, if Monaco are drawn to face PSG

10:34 AM GMTTop draw!

Good morning and welcome to our stay protection of the draw for the e knockout spherical play-offs which can be going down at The Home of European Soccer in Nyon.

At present’s draw, which will get underneath manner at 11am, confirms the opponents of the 16 groups who made it by to the play-offs by advantage of ending from ninth to twenty fourth place in huge 36-team group part desk. They embody and who already now they may face one in all Actual Madrid or Bayern Munich.

, and in the meantime are sitting fairly within the spherical of 16 already, having been spared the additional two play-off fixtures by ending within the prime eight of the group part desk.

The draw will nonetheless be of curiosity to their followers, nonetheless, as a result of it would place them on one aspect or different of the knockout bracket and provide a greater indication of their potential opponents within the subsequent stage and the latter rounds as they plot their course to the ultimate in Munich on 31 Could.