Real Madrid will play Manchester City in the Champions League knockout playoffs round in a standout clash of the past two title winners after the draw was made Friday.

Manchester City have been drawn to face Real Madrid in the Champions League playoff round, the fourth season in a row that the two clubs have met in the tournament's knockout stages.

Pep Guardiola breathed a sigh of relief as Manchester City scraped into the Uefa Champions League play-offs with a 3-1 win over Club Brugge. City trailed their Belgian opponents at half time before Mateo Kovacic and the lively Savinho inspired a second-half comeback with a Joel Ordonez own goal sandwiched in between.

Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United are all interested in a deal to sign Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich in the January transfer window. Tel dropped a transfer bombshell on Tuesday – deciding that he wishes to leave Bayern this month – which has seen Arsenal and United join Chelsea in a dramatic late race to land his signature.

Tottenham have agreed a £50m deal with Bayern Munich for 19-year-old forward Mathys Tel, who is also being targeted by Chelsea. L'Equipe - in French) However, Tel would prefer a move to Manchester United over Chelsea,