Manchester City Champions League draw: Pep Guardiola's side to face Schalke

Pep Guardiola's men look well placed to go deep in Europe's elite club competition this season

Manchester City have been handed a favourable Champions League round of 16 draw against struggling Bundesliga side Schalke.

The first leg will be played at Arena AufSchalke on either February 20, with the return leg set for the Etihad Stadium on March 12.

City qualified for the round of 16 as comfortable winners of Group F, despite taking just one point from two entertaining games against youthful runners-up Lyon.

Things are slightly less smooth for Pep Guardiola’s men domestically; they trail unbeaten Liverpool by a point in the Premier League after 17 matches, having suffered their first league defeat of the campaign against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier this month.

Schalke might be the most out-of-form side left in the Champions League, however - they are 13th in the Bundesliga, having won just four of their 15 matches this season.

City won their Champions League group last season too, and overcame Swiss giants Basel 5-2 over two legs before falling to Liverpool in the quarter-finals.

It is remarkable to think that Guardiola last won the Champions League in 2011. He has a golden opportunity to end his drought in European football’s elite club competition this year.