Manchester City's first European assignment of the new season has been decided.
UEFA took the time on Friday to draw the final Playoff matchups that will send ten teams to the Champions League Group Stage. There is the Champions Route, with the winners from the lesser leagues in Europe, and the League Route, which brings really big teams who finished in the last UCL qualifying spot in their leagues last season.
City's draw could have been very difficult, with teams like Porto, Roma, Ajax, Villarreal, Monaco and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Instead, the Sky Blues got a much easier draw.
.@ManCity draw @FCSteaua in @ChampionsLeague play-off round.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 5, 2016
READ ➡️ https://t.co/n4V8QgOwl2 pic.twitter.com/VggUI7tb41
Steaua Bucharest is a very traditional club in European Cup history, having won the Champions League in 1986 against Barcelona. Despite their winning past, Steaua are not as dominant internationally today, and the Romanians are the clear underdogs facing Pep Guardiola's side.
The Champions League Playoffs take place in 16/17 August, with the return leg happening on 23/24 August. City will play the second leg at home, which gives the Citizens a major chance of advancing to the group stage.
It won't be easy, but could have been a LOT harder.