Manchester City will face a high-profile clash against
Real Madrid as part of their eight fixtures in the new-look
UEFA Champions League league phase. The draw, conducted on Friday,
has placed Pep Guardiola’s reigning Premier League champions against some of Europe’s
most formidable clubs, setting up a dramatic continental campaign.
The 2024/25 season marks the introduction of UEFA’s revamped competition format,
replacing the traditional group stages with a single league table system.
Each of the 36 participating teams will play eight matches –
two against clubs from each of Pots 1, 2, 3, and 4 – split evenly between home and away.
The top eight sides will qualify directly for the round of 16, while teams finishing
between ninth and 24th will enter a play-off round to secure their knockout place.
Manchester City’s confirmed fixtures include blockbuster ties against
Borussia Dortmund at home and an away trip to the Santiago Bernabéu
to face Real Madrid, reigniting one of modern European football’s
most iconic rivalries. Other matches will see City host Bayer Leverkusen,
Napoli, and Galatasaray, while travelling to
Villarreal, Bodø/Glimt, and Monaco.
Manchester City’s 2025 Champions League League Phase Fixtures:
- Borussia Dortmund (Home)
- Real Madrid (Away)
- Bayer Leverkusen (Home)
- Villarreal (Away)
- Napoli (Home)
- Bodø/Glimt (Away)
- Galatasaray (Home)
- Monaco (Away)
Fixture schedules and match dates will be confirmed by UEFA on Saturday.
The competition officially resumes later this autumn, with the expanded league phase
set to conclude in January 2026.
Background on the Format
The new Champions League model, approved by UEFA in 2021, was designed to add more
elite matchups to the early stages of the competition and increase competitiveness.
Each team will face a broader range of opponents, removing the predictability often
seen in the old four-team group format. For clubs like Manchester City, it means
balancing high-profile clashes with logistical challenges, particularly with away
trips as far as Norway (Bodø/Glimt).
FAQs
- Who are Manchester City’s toughest opponents?
Real Madrid and Napoli stand out as the most challenging fixtures, with both clubs
boasting Champions League pedigree and strong recent form.
- How does the new league phase work?
Each team plays eight matches against opponents from all four seeding pots.
The top eight progress directly to the round of 16, while teams ranked 9th–24th
compete in a knockout play-off.
- When will Manchester City play Real Madrid?
The official schedule will be announced on Saturday. The clash is expected to
draw global attention as two of Europe’s powerhouses collide.
- Could City face English clubs in this stage?
Under the new system, English sides can be drawn against one another in the
league phase, though City avoided such pairings in this season’s draw.
- Where will the final be held?
The 2026 UEFA Champions League Final is set to be played at the
San Siro in Milan.
Conclusion
Manchester City’s Champions League journey promises to be one of their toughest yet,
with trips to iconic venues such as the Santiago Bernabéu and Stade Louis II.
Pep Guardiola’s men, chasing their second European crown after triumph in 2023,
will need to navigate a demanding schedule against top-class opponents.
With Real Madrid awaiting in Spain and Napoli providing a stern test at the Etihad,
the coming months will be crucial in determining whether City can reassert their
dominance on the continental stage under UEFA’s new format.
