NYON, Switzerland >> It will be Real Madrid vs. Manchester City yet again in the Champions League — but never as early as this, and for the first time with a Kylian Mbappé vs. Erling Haaland matchup.

Two heavyweights who struggled in the new eight-game league phase were the standout pairing Friday in the draw for the new knockout playoffs round. City had to be drawn against Bayern Munich or defending champion Madrid.

Madrid and City met in three semifinals and one quarterfinal in the past nine years and each time the winner went on to lift the trophy.

This time it is a two-leg playoff just for the right to enter the round of 16 because each lost three of eight games in the 36-team league and failed to advance direct among the top eight placed teams.

City, the 2023 champion in Haaland’s debut season, will host the first leg in Manchester on Feb. 11 or 12 and the return game is on Feb. 18 or 19. Madrid won a record-extending 15th European title last season and then added Mbappé to an already stellar team.

Neymar signs short contract with Santos >> A tearful Neymar was welcomed back to his boyhood club by thousands of Santos fans and a concert in the home stadium beneath an electronic sign saying, “The prince is back.”

The striker signed a contract upon arrival, reportedly valid to the end of June.

About 20,000 Santos fans filled their Vila Belmiro Stadium in the rain outside Sao Paulo to celebrate the return of 32-year-old Neymar.

US national team veteran Dunn joins PSG >> U.S. national team veteran Crystal Dunn has signed with Paris Saint-Germain through the 2027 season.

The move comes less than a week after Dunn parted ways with Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League.

College athletics

More than dozen objections filed in antitrust settlement >> More than a dozen objections have been filed against the $2.8 billion settlement of antitrust allegations against the NCAA and the nation’s biggest conferences — concerns ranging from roster limits and Title IX to what some call an unfair salary cap — but attorneys say they don’t see any threats to pushing the industry-changing lawsuit through this year.

The deadline arrived to submit objections to the so-called House settlement, which calls for former athletes to receive millions in back pay and also gives schools the option to distribute up to $20.5 million a year in payments to athletes for use of their name, image and likeness (NIL).

Pro basketball

Rozier declines to address investigation >> Terry Rozier declined to answer questions about the investigations by federal prosecutors into unusual betting patterns surrounding his play in a game when he was with the Charlotte Hornets in 2023.

Rozier, now with the Miami Heat, is linked to the same probe that led to former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter being banned for life from the NBA, facing criminal prosecution and eventually pleading guilty to committing wire fraud.

Wade reveals kidney surgery to remove tumor later found to be cancerous >> Hall of Fame player Dwyane Wade said doctors performed a December 2023 surgery on his kidney to remove a tumor later determined to be cancerous.

Wade said he had not had regular physical exams in a few years before seeing a doctor due to stomach and urinary issues. A full body scan discovered what he described as a “cyst/tumor” that led to the surgery, which Wade said removed 40% of his right kidney.