Brest is next in line as defending champion Paris Saint-Germain tries to stay unbeaten in the French league. PSG leads by 10 points with 15 games to go and remains on course for a yet another Ligue 1 and French Cup double.

The UEFA Champions League's first-ever league phase is over, and the knockout stage outlook is now much clearer. Manchester City avoided disaster, Liverpool topped the league-phase table, and we will get Manchester City against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the playoffs.

Here's the state of play after the conclusion of the first stage of the Champions League: Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, Aston Villa. Monaco or Brest vs. Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica (for the right to play Liverpool or Barcelona)

Harry Kane helps Bayern Munich to beat Slovan Bratislava but victory is only good enough to earn the German club a play-off spot in the Champions League.

Bayern Munich is building for the future by snapping up goalkeeper Jonas Urbig from Cologne. The Bavarian powerhouse announced the transfer late Monday.

Bayern Munich will have to switch their mentality to fit the knockout games of the Champions League, coach Vincent Kompany said on Wednesday, with the Bavarians potentially facing Manchester City in the playoff for a Round of 16 spot.

Why there are options on the draw… Like your writers, I was initially wondering why there is a draw now for those in the UCL play-offs – i.e. why Man City will play one of Real Madrid / Bayern Munich – but it actually makes sense.

There is going to be a blockbuster Champions League knockout playoff round tie between Manchester City and Bayern Munich or Real Madrid. Here's why.

Manchester City’s reward for sealing their place in the Champions League knockout play-off stage is a tie with either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. Pep Guardiola’s men went into

City will face one of those two European heavyweights in the Champions League next month after scraping through to the play-off round on Wednesday.

Bayern Munich still have work to do as they target a top-eight finish in the Champions League. Bayern Munich vs Slovan Bratislava best bets Bayern Munich – 4.5 Asian handicap with bet365

Paris Saint-Germain completed an impressive turnaround in form to reach the UEFA Champions League playoffs on Wednesday with a 4-1 win away at VfB Stuttgart securing a top-24 berth when all had seemed lost with three games to go.