Liverpool will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16, while Arsenal take on PSV, as paths to European glory are put in place.
With the knockout phase play-offs being completed, as the likes of Manchester City and AC Milan fell at the hurdle, routes to the final have been drawn up for those still in contention for continental glory in 2024-25. That pack includes a number of heavyweight outfits.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE KNOCKOUT STAGE DRAW IN FULL
Last 16:
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
Borussia Dortmund vs Lille
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen
PSV vs Arsenal
Feyenoord vs Inter
PSG vs Liverpool
Benfica vs Barcelona
Quarter-finals:
PSG/Liverpool vs Club Brugge/Aston Villa
PSV/Arsenal vs Real Madrid/Atletico Madrid
Feyenoord/Inter vs Bayern Munich/Bayer Leverkusen
Borussia Dortmund/Lille vs Benfica/Barcelona
Semi-finals:
Winners of quarter-final 2 vs winners of quarter-final 1
Winners of quarter-final 3 vs winners of quarter-final 4
Liverpool claimed first place in the league stage, while also topping the Premier League table at present, but face a tough test against PSG while chasing down a seventh European Cup. The Reds’ domestic rivals, Arsenal, must overcome PSV in order to keep themselves in the hunt for major silverware.
Defending champions Real Madrid, after seeing a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick down Manchester City, will lock horns with cross-city neighbours Atletico, while Barcelona are readying themselves for a clash with Portuguese foes Benfica.
Club Brugge have made history by becoming the first Belgian side to win a Champions League knockout game, having overcome Atalanta, and their reward is a meeting with Aston Villa – who they met in the league stage.
Bayern Munich face familiar opposition in the form of Bundesliga title rivals Bayer Leverkusen and the other German side still in the mix, Borussia Dortmund, tackle Lille. Inter are the only Serie A representatives in the last 16, with the Nerazzurri lining up against the Feyenoord side that dashed AC Milan’s dreams in the play-offs.
Liverpool could face Villa in the quarter-finals, as they share the same path, while Real Madrid are potential last-eight opponents for Arsenal. On the other side of the draw, there is the prospect of Dortmund taking on Barcelona and Bayern Munich – with Harry Kane leading the line – going head-to-head with Italian giants Inter.
The first legs of the last-16 encounters in elite European competition will take place on March 4 and 5, with return dates being held a week later. The 2025 Champions League final is set to be hosted by the Allianz Arena in Munich on May 31.
Goal.com
