The stage is set for the knockout stage of the Champions League following Friday’s draw at UEFA’s headquarters. The event produced several high-profile matchups, most notably a renewed rivalry between Real Madrid and Manchester City.
The draw determined the bracket for the round of 16, as well as the potential paths to the final for the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Real Madrid and Manchester City will meet in the knockout rounds for the fifth consecutive season. The Spanish giants have come out on top in three of their four previous encounters.
City was one of the eight teams that secured direct qualification to the round of 16 during the league phase, while Madrid advanced through the playoff round. The Premier League side could have drawn Bodo/Glimt but instead pulled out a familiar and challenging opponent.
In another standout tie, Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain will face Chelsea. The match is a repeat of the recent Club World Cup final and pits two of Europe’s wealthiest clubs against each other with a place in the quarterfinals on the line.
Barcelona, who secured their place in the last 16 after a dominant playoff win over Qarabag, will now face Newcastle United. It will be a significant test for the Catalan side against a Premier League opponent known for its physical style of play.
The top seeds from the league phase received their assignments as well. Arsenal, who finished at the top of the standings, will take on a dangerous Bayer Leverkusen side. Liverpool, another top seed, is set to face Galatasaray.
The draw also ensured a strong Premier League presence in the next round, with six English clubs learning their fate. Tottenham Hotspur will face Atletico Madrid in a tie that promises to be tightly contested.
The full round of 16 matchups are as follows:
The first legs of the round of 16 are scheduled to take place in early March, with the return legs following a week later. The eight winners will then move on to the quarterfinals, with the path to the final now clearly mapped out following Friday’s proceedings.