Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered his first reaction to taking on Real Madrid for a place in the UEFA Champions League last-16 following Friday’s draw.The Premier League champions

Pep Guardiola ready for Real Madrid ‘derby’ after Champions League draw - The two sides will meet for the fifth time in six seasons, while Celtic take on Bayern Munich.

Crisis averted then for Manchester City. Or perhaps that should read crisis postponed? The champions of England escaped the league phase and through a certain prism, there is a case to be made that Pep Guardiola's side are well into the post-nadir period of their season.