Though City thrashed the Spanish club 5-1 on aggregate in the semifinals in 2023 en route to the treble, Real exacted revenge last year when they beat Pep Guardiola's side on penalties in the quarterfinals after two draws.
The competition does not get any easier for either team as they will face Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
With teams from the same country also allowed to face each other, unlike in previous years, the playoffs will have an all-French tie with Paris St Germain facing Brest.
The winners will face Liverpool or Barcelona in the last 16.
Juventus and AC Milan avoided each other in the draw, with the two Serie A sides facing Dutch clubs PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord, respectively.
However, the Italian sides may face Inter Milan if they advance to the next round or they could come up against Arsenal.
Last year's runners-up Borussia Dortmund take on Portuguese side Sporting while Club Brugge face Atalanta.
Real Madrid to face Man City in Champions League knockout playoffs
Image: Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Defending champions Real Madrid will renew their Champions League rivalry with 2023 winners Manchester City in a blockbuster knockout-phase playoff tie after the two teams were pitted against each other in the draw in Nyon on Friday.
Real and City failed to advance automatically to the last 16 as one of the top eight sides after they finished 11th and 22nd, respectively, in the new league-phase format.
Teams that finished ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged playoff to advance to the last 16.
Real and City have played each other in four knockout ties since 2020 and will face off for a fourth consecutive year.
The Spanish league leaders will fancy their chances having eliminated English clubs in the knockout stages 13 times.
Though City thrashed the Spanish club 5-1 on aggregate in the semifinals in 2023 en route to the treble, Real exacted revenge last year when they beat Pep Guardiola's side on penalties in the quarterfinals after two draws.
The competition does not get any easier for either team as they will face Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
With teams from the same country also allowed to face each other, unlike in previous years, the playoffs will have an all-French tie with Paris St Germain facing Brest.
The winners will face Liverpool or Barcelona in the last 16.
Juventus and AC Milan avoided each other in the draw, with the two Serie A sides facing Dutch clubs PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord, respectively.
However, the Italian sides may face Inter Milan if they advance to the next round or they could come up against Arsenal.
Last year's runners-up Borussia Dortmund take on Portuguese side Sporting while Club Brugge face Atalanta.
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE KNOCKOUT PLAYOFFS DRAW
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