It has been a Champions League semi-final three times over the past decade and a quarter-final once, but this time Manchester City will face Real Madrid in the competition’s new play-offs round — with the winners over two legs next month advancing to the last 16 in March.

That blockbuster tie coming at such an early stage of the competition is surely not what UEFA envisaged when it revamped the tournament’s structure this year, meaning only the top eight sides from the 36-team opening phase qualified automatically for the last 16.

But City and Madrid have paid for their poor performances in Europe this season, with the English champions particularly close to going out altogether as they trailed in the last of their eight games.

Now, both have the chance to make amends by knocking out opponents they will see as major rivals in their bid to go on and win the competition.

Elsewhere among the eight ties, Celtic meet Bayern Munich and there is an all-French contest between minnows Brest and serial domestic champions Paris Saint-Germain.

The first legs of the play-off matches will take place on February 11 and 12, with the returns a week later.

Sam Lee, Rory Smith, Oliver Kay, Seb Stafford-Bloor and Dermot Corrigan analyse the key talking points from today’s draw. Go Deeper below.