The Champions League round of 16 draw in Nyon, Switzerland, has set up blockbuster encounters, with defending champions Real Madrid drawn against city rivals Atletico Madrid after eliminating 2023 winners Manchester City. The two sides previously clashed in the 2014 and 2016 finals, both won by Real Madrid.
Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen will take on defending champions Bayern Munich in a rematch of their recent goalless league draw. Meanwhile, Premier League leaders Liverpool, the top-seeded team from the league phase, face a formidable test against 15th-seeded PSG. The two clubs have never met in a Champions League knockout tie, with their last encounters coming in the 2018-19 group stage—a season that ended with Liverpool lifting their sixth European title.
The first-leg fixtures are scheduled for March 4-5, with the return legs set for the following week. Elsewhere, second-seeded Barcelona will meet Benfica, Arsenal will play PSV Eindhoven, and Inter Milan will face Feyenoord. Club Brugge, the lowest-ranked qualifier, will go up against Aston Villa, while Borussia Dortmund take on Lille.
This season’s format changes have allowed domestic rivalries to unfold earlier in the tournament, a scenario not possible in previous editions. The draw also mapped out potential quarterfinal and semifinal paths, with the Liverpool vs. PSG winner set to meet the victor of Aston Villa vs. Club Brugge, while the Madrid derby winner will face either Arsenal or PSV Eindhoven.
Champions League Round of 16 Draw in Full:
- Club Brugge (Belgium) vs. Aston Villa (England)
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany) vs. Lille (France)
- Real Madrid (Spain) vs. Atletico Madrid (Spain)
- Bayern Munich (Germany) vs. Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
- PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) vs. Arsenal (England)
- Feyenoord (Netherlands) vs. Inter Milan (Italy)
- Paris Saint-Germain (France) vs. Liverpool (England)
- Benfica (Portugal) vs. Barcelona (Spain)
Source: Swifteradio.com
