The Champions League play-off draw has been announced, and Manchester City will be facing off against Real Madrid while Celtic is set to take on Bayern Munich in the upcoming round. With City placed in the "top" half of the draw and Celtic in the "bottom" half, both teams will face tough opponents. Meanwhile, Arsenal and Wolves are making moves in the transfer market. Get ready for thrilling games and join the conversation on #bbcfootball or through WhatsApp and text. Tune into The Football News Show with former pro footballer Stephen Warnock for more analysis.
Champions League Play-Off Draw: Real Madrid to Face Manchester City
The Champions League play-off draw has pitted Manchester City against Real Madrid in a highly anticipated matchup. Celtic, meanwhile, will take on Bayern Munich.
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid
This clash will see two of Europe's most formidable clubs go head-to-head. Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, have been a dominant force in recent years, while Real Madrid, a perennial powerhouse, are the defending Champions League winners.
With Manchester City in the "top" half of the draw, they will play the second leg at home. However, Real Madrid, with their vast experience in knockout football, will pose a significant threat.
Celtic vs. Bayern Munich
Celtic, the Scottish champions, will face a daunting task against Bayern Munich, one of the most successful clubs in European history. Bayern have won the Bundesliga 10 times in the last 11 seasons and are renowned for their attacking prowess.
With Celtic in the "bottom" half of the draw, they will host the second leg. However, they will need to overcome a significant deficit against the German giants if they want to advance.
Other Transfer News
In addition to the Champions League draw, Arsenal and Wolves have been busy in the transfer market. Arsenal have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Fabio Vieira from Porto, while Wolves have completed the signing of Nathan Collins from Burnley.
Top 5 FAQs
1. When will the Champions League play-off matches take place? The first legs will be played on February 14/15, 2023, and the second legs on February 21/22, 2023.
2. How can I watch the matches? The matches will be broadcast on CBS Sports in the United States, BT Sport in the United Kingdom, and DAZN in Canada.
3. Who is the favorite to win the Champions League? Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool are considered the favorites to win the tournament this year.
4. Who has won the most Champions League titles? Real Madrid has won the most Champions League titles, with 14.
5. When was the last time Manchester City played Real Madrid in the Champions League? Manchester City and Real Madrid last met in the 2020/21 Champions League semifinals, with Madrid winning 3-1 on aggregate.
Ahead of Game 3 of the Lakers' first-round playoff series and their first road game of the postseason against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lakers coach JJ Redick shared his thoughts on the experience of playing in hostile environments. He described the thrill of silencing and even ruining the day of opposing fans who pay top dollar to watch their team, and the satisfaction that comes with winning on the road in the playoffs. Redick, known for his competitive and relentless nature, emphasized the unique allure of such moments outside of potentially winning a championship.
It was a historic night at Chepauk, as Sunrisers Hyderabad finally defeated Chennai Super Kings at their home ground after six failed attempts. CSK's fortress is now crumbling, with four home losses this season which matches their worst record in 2008 and 2012. SRH's win was fueled by a spectacular catch from Kusal Mendis, which turned the game in their favor and left CSK struggling for any hope of making it to the playoffs. Meanwhile, MS Dhoni's quest to create history in the CSK vs SRH match remained unfulfilled as SRH came out victorious.
Deepak Hooda, who was bought by CSK for INR 1.7 crore at the IPL 2024 mega auction, drew criticism from fans for his sluggish knock of 22 runs off 21 balls in their IPL 2025 match against SRH. This was following his poor performance in the previous three games for the team. Despite his overall record of 1494 runs in the IPL, Hooda's strike rate and consistency have been questioned by fans. Meanwhile, Harshal Patel's 4/28 helped SRH restrict CSK to 154, with debutants Dewald Brevis and Ayush Mhatre contributing 42 and 30 runs, respectively.
In a thrilling IPL match, Sunrisers Hyderabad registered their first victory at the Chepauk by defeating Chennai Super Kings by five wickets. Harshal Patel's four-wicket haul and Ishan Kishan's fighting knock of 44 led the Sunrisers to victory. Captain Pat Cummins was relieved after the win and praised the team's clinical bowling performance. CSK could only manage 154 runs, thanks to brisk knocks from Dewald Brevis and Ayush Mhatre, and SRH easily chased down the target, fixing their poor record against CSK.
Former AEW star returns to WWE after four years, making an impressive and impactful entrance during SmackDown. After being released by WWE in 2021, Black debuted in AEW as Malakai Black and gained popularity with the fan-favorite faction, House of Black. Now, Black is back in WWE and fans are excited to see what he can bring to the ring.
Indian Olympic javelin champion, Neeraj Chopra, defends his decision to invite Pakistani athlete, Arshad Nadeem, to compete in the upcoming NC Classic event in India. Despite receiving backlash and even threats towards himself and his family, Chopra stands by his invitation and expresses disappointment in the doubting of his loyalty and integrity to his country. He also voices his thoughts and prayers for the victims of a recent terrorist attack in Kashmir.
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra has faced criticism and hate for inviting Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem to the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru. Neeraj clarified that the invitation was sent before the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and was solely based on Arshad's status as an Olympic gold medallist. He also stated that, in light of the tragedy, Arshad's participation in the event was no longer possible.
After a string of home defeats, Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally emerged victorious at the Chinnaswamy Stadium against the Rajasthan Royals, thanks to their captain Virat Kohli and a strong bowling unit. Kohli's unbeaten 70 runs and intense celebrations on the field reflected the high-stakes nature of the match, which saw both teams giving it their all. With this win, RCB moves up to the third spot on the league table with six wins in nine games.
India's star javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, has spoken up about the criticism he received for inviting Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem to compete in the Neeraj Chopra Classic event. Despite declining the invitation, Nadeem's presence at the event was deemed inappropriate following the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam. Chopra clarified that the invitation was sent well before the attacks and expressed his love for his country and family amidst the backlash. He also addressed the false narratives being spread about him and his family and vowed to continue representing India with pride and integrity.
Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood's brilliant performance against Rajasthan Royals' batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal caught the attention of viewers during an IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals. In an intense competition, Hazlewood was able to dismiss Jaiswal just shy of a half-century, leading to a heated exchange between the two players. Hazlewood's final figures of 4 for 33 played a critical role in RCB's narrow 11-run victory.