Real Madrid is celebrating its return to good form despite placing low in the Champions League and failing to avoid a possible playoff against Manchester City. Madrid's slow start in the European competition kept the defending champion from going straight into the round of 16 — and possibly set up an encounter with Man City in the playoffs.

The Champions League holders will face either Celtic or City in the two-legged play-off in February. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Manuel Akanji confident Manchester City can beat Real Madrid or Bayern Munich - 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.