Real Madrid learned its opponents for the Champions League playoff round earlier, knowing it would be Manchester City or Celtic. Los Blancos were drawn against the 2023 competition winners and Premier League Champion Manchester City.

Follow 5 Live commentary and live text updates from the first leg of the knockout round play-offs of the Champions League, starting with Brest taking on PSG before Manchester City welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium.

In 2024, the clubs' fifth knockout-round meeting in less than a decade ended in a penalty shootout. Real Madrid won it, and went on to win the entire competition. That year, like in prior years, the City-Madrid showdown felt like the final before the final.