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.

The winner will then face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen, the Nos. 5 and 6 teams in the 36-team standings that ended Wednesday. Other teams through to the round of 16 in March are Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Lille and Aston Villa.

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.

Brazilian media reported Neymar signed a five-month contract with Santos as he aims to recharge in Brazil ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

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.

The 32-year-old Dunn was signed as a free agent by Gotham FC in late 2023. She played one season with the club, appearing in 23 matches with one goal and two assists.

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).

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken will have at least 14 objections to review — ranging from letters from soccer players to legal briefs picking apart the entire settlement — before the April 7 hearing she set to consider final approval of the settlement. The schools want to clear the way for the deal to take effect starting with the next academic year.

NCAA settles lawsuit with Tennessee and Virginia >> The NCAA has settled the lawsuit with the attorneys general of Tennessee and Virginia and other states over its rules prohibiting name, image and likeness compensation for recruits.

This settles the antitrust lawsuit filed exactly a year ago by the attorneys general of Tennessee and Virginia challenging the NCAA’s ban on the use of name, image and likeness compensation in the recruitment of college athletes. That lawsuit was a response to the NCAA’s investigation of University of Tennessee athletics for potential recruiting infractions.

Baseball

King, Padres avoid arbitration >> Pitcher Michael King and the San Diego Padres avoided an arbitration hearing when they agreed to a one-year deal guaranteeing $7.75 million.

King gets a $3 million signing bonus and a $1 million salary this year. The agreement includes a $15 million mutual option with a $3.75 million buyout, and the buyout amount could escalate by $250,000 based on starts this year; $50,000 for 20 and $100,000 each for 25 and 28.

A 29-year-old right-hander, King asked for $8.8 million and was offered $7,325,000 when proposed figures were exchanged. He will be eligible for free agency after this year’s World Series.

Brewers, Contreras avoid arbitration >> Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras agreed to a one-year contract guaranteeing $6.1 million, avoiding an arbitration hearing.

A two-time All-Star, Contreras had asked for $6.5 million and had been offered $5.6 million when proposed figures were exchanged.