- The highly anticipated UEFA Champions League draw for the round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final took place on Friday
- FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Arsenal are among the teams left in the competition
- Liverpool have been paired with French giants Paris Saint-Germain in a highly anticipated clash
On Friday, the highly anticipated UEFA Champions League draw for the round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final took place in a coveted ceremony in Nyon, Switzerland. All the 16 teams remaining in the Champions League now know who they will face in the next stage of the tournament.
With the 2024-25 season drawing to an end, only the best teams this campaign are remaining in the race for the prestigious UEFA Champions League title. FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Arsenal are among the teams left in the competition.
UEFA Champions League draw took place on Friday. Photo/ Opta Analyst.
UEFA Champions League Draw In Full
All three English Premier League teams remaining in the Champions League reached the knockout stages after finishing in the top eight of the league phase.
Arsenal, who are struggling with injuries this campaign, have been paired with Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven. The Gunners thrashed PSV 4-0 when they met in the group stage last season. Despite the resounding win, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes that the match will not be an easy one.
Unai Emery’s side Aston Villa have made it to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 1983 and will face Belgian side Club Brugge, who beat them in the group stage.
Liverpool, on the other hand, have been paired with French giants Paris Saint-Germain in a highly anticipated clash. The Reds are currently top of the Premier League standings.
Bayer Munich, who last won the UEFA Champions League title in 2020, will face their Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16. The Bavarians are currently eight points clear on top of the Bundesliga after their 0-0 draw against Leverkusen last weekend.
Last year’s finalist Borussia Dortmund have been drawn against French side Lille. Meanwhile, Serie A giants Inter Milan will clash with Feyenoord.
Five-time UEFA Champions League winners FC Barcelona have been paired with Portuguese club SL Benfica in the round of 16. The two sides already met this season in the group stages, with Barcelona winning the match 5-4, thanks to Raphinha’s goal in the dying minutes of the game.
Barca boss Hansi Flick believes that the last 16 clash against Benfica will not be an easy one as Benfica already proved to be tough opponents.
Meanwhile, defending champions Real Madrid have a big task ahead of them as they will face La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid in a mouth-watering round of 16 clash. Real advanced to the last 16 after thrashing Premier League side Manchester City 6-3 on aggregate.
Real Madrid are the defending champions. Photo/ BBC.
Speaking about the clash against Real Madrid, Atletico boss Simeone said they are ready.
“I’m going to answer just one question (on Real)… We have a great rival. We’re going to have a great game and we’re prepared.” Diego Simeone is quoted by ESPN Africa.
Real and Atletico faced each other in the 2014 and 2016 UEFA Champions League finals, with the former winning both editions.
Diego Simeone’s side have a difficult one month ahead as they will face their cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid two times and fellow La Liga giants FC Barcelona three times. Atletico have 50 points in La Liga and will face Valencia on Saturday before Barcelona, who have 51, clash with Las Palmas.
Real, who are also on 51, will play Girona at Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. The Los Blancos are yet to win in La Liga this month and have been on headlines as they rage at a series of refereeing decisions in league matches. They lost 1-0 at Espanyol and were held to a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid before another 1-1 draw at Osasuna where Jude Bellingham was sent off. Bellingham’s controversial red card means the England international will not be available when the Spanish giants face Girona.
