The Champions League knockout playoff draw took place today, with Manchester City set to face Real Madrid.

Today’s Champions League draw

Teams finishing between ninth and 24th in the group stage will play two-legged knockout ties on February 11-12 and 18-19 to determine who progresses to the round of 16.
Manchester City, who have reached the Champions League semi-finals three times in the past decade and the quarter-finals once, will now meet Real Madrid in the new playoff round of the competition. The winners of this two-legged tie will advance to the last 16 in March.

This high-profile matchup so early in the tournament is likely not what UEFA envisioned when it restructured the competition this year, as only the top eight teams from the 36-team group phase automatically qualified for the round of 16.

Both City and Madrid have been punished for their poor European performances this season. The English champions came close to elimination, as they were trailing in the final game of their group.

Now, both teams have an opportunity to make up for their shortcomings by eliminating each other in what will be a crucial contest in their quests to win the competition.

Other notable matchups include Celtic facing Bayern Munich, while an all-French clash pits Brest against the dominant Paris Saint-Germain.

The first legs of these play-off ties will be played on February 11 and 12, with the second legs scheduled for a week later.