The Champions League knockout stage is set for a thrilling start as Manchester City take on Real Madrid in a high-stakes play-off tie for a spot in the last 16.
The Premier League champions missed out on automatic qualification, meaning they must now navigate a two-legged clash against the Spanish giants.
Meanwhile, Scottish champions Celtic face a daunting task against Bayern Munich in their own play-off tie.
The play-off round will be contested over two legs, with matches scheduled for February 11-12 and the return fixtures on February 18-19.
Several European powerhouses secured direct passage to the round of 16 by finishing in the top eight of the league phase. These include:
- Liverpool
- Barcelona
- Arsenal
- Inter Milan
- Atletico Madrid
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Lille
- Aston Villa
The draw for the last 16 will take place on Friday, February 21, setting the stage for the next phase of the tournament.
With some of Europe’s biggest clubs involved, the road to the final promises to be an exciting battle for Champions League glory.