The Champions League league phase is nearing its conclusion as teams, players and fans all around the world prepare for the next stage of competition.

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.

After a frantic last round of action Wednesday, the inaugural 36-team league phase in Champions League history is over.

It will be an unprecedented Champions League's Matchday 8 as all the teams will be playing at the same time on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City need to win in their last tie of the league phase to avoid the elimination from the tournament,

The moment of truth has arrived in the UEFA Champions League. With a revamped format, Europe’s premier competition is entering a critical juncture. Just one matchday remains in this inaugural league-phase format, which replaced the traditional group stage, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

After a chaotic final Champions League league phase matchday, Real Madrid now know their two potential opponents for the knockout phase playoffs.

Draw made Friday for the knockout playoffs round in the UEFA Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain (France) vs. Brest (France) — winner will play Liverpool or Barcelona Benfica (Portugal) vs. Monaco (