Now, following the last-16 play-off round draw on Friday morning, it has been confirmed that Manchester City will face Real Madrid across two legs for a place in the last-16, with

It will be Real Madrid vs. Manchester City yet again in the Champions League — but never as early as this, and for the first time with a Kylian Mbappé vs. Erling Haaland matchup. Two heavyweights who struggled in the new eight-game league phase were the standout pairing Friday in the draw for the new knockout playoffs round.

Manchester City must navigate a two-legged tie with European champions Real Madrid while Celtic have been paired with Bayern Munich in the play-offs; winners of ties will play either Atletico Madrid o