Manchester City will do battle with Real Madrid in the new UEFA Champions League Round of 16 playoffs. Following disappointing league phase campaigns, the current holders and the 2023 champions will battle for the fourth successive season,

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola faces a selection headache as he will need to omit one of the club's January signing from the Champions League knockout stages ahead of Thursday's deadline.

The club’s bad season might get worse as it faces 115 charges of breaching financial rules. The fallout will reverberate beyond football.

Defending champions Real Madrid will renew their Champions League rivalry with 2023 winners Manchester City in a blockbuster knockout phase playoff tie after the two teams were pitted against each other in the draw held in Nyon on Friday.

Real Madrid vs. Manchester City is now a familiar sight in the Champions League. European soccer’s most engrossing rivalry in recent years will resume in a two-legged playoff next month to reach the round of 16.

Premier League clubs spent approximately £370 million ($459m) in this past transfer window, with Manchester City paying out £180m ($223m), nearly as much as the other 19-top flight teams.