Round of 16 hopes can be boosted in the first legs of the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs. Manchester City meet Real Madrid and Paris must overcome French counterparts Brest in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs.

Friday morning, UEFA conducted the draw for the Champion League's new playoff phase, which essentially adds one more round to the previous format's knockout stage. 16 teams were sorted, with pairings influenced (but not entirely determined) by order of finish in the group stage.

Discover the latest UEFA Champions League standings, thrilling match results, and key storylines as Europe’s elite clubs battle for the ultimate football crown.

The UEFA Champions League's first-ever league phase will come to a dramatic close on Wednesday, when all 18 games will kick off at once with several spots in the knockout stages up for grabs. All but nine teams are still in the running to qualify for the next rounds,

The UEFA Champions League knockout round draw is Friday, with 24 of Europe's top soccer clubs entering the playoff phase. Here's what to know.

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Draw made Friday for the knockout playoffs round in the UEFA Champions League: Atalanta (Italy) vs. Club Brugge (Belgium) – winner will play Lille or Aston Villa

Will Barcelona reign supreme for a third year in a row? Well, we don't have long to wait as the knockout draw is set to take place on 7 February.

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.