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.

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.

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

Plus, how three French teams can get byes, and how one Italian rival could knock another out of the top eight, and more

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.

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.

The two European giants know City are struggling but will still have a sense of dread at maybe having to face Pep Guardiola’s men

Champions League by reaching the knockout stage playoffs with a 12th-place finish after a 3-1 win over Slovan Bratislava 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

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)