Liverpool will face French champions Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League, with Friday’s draw also pitting Arsenal against PSV Eindhoven.
Aston Villa meanwhile take on Club Bruges again, having lost at the Belgian club in the league phase of the new-look tournament.
For Liverpool, it is the bad luck of the draw. Arne Slot’s side came top of the league phase, winning seven of their eight matches, but PSG emerged as possible last-16 opponents when finishing a lowly 15th.
Liverpool’s only Champions League meetings with PSG came in the group stage of the 2018-19 season, the Reds winning 3-2 at home and losing 2-1 away.
Arsenal played PSV in the groups last season, winning 4-0 at home and drawing 1-1 away. Villa have recent history against Club Bruges, losing 1-0 there in November.
Manchester City meanwhile failed to reach the round of 16 for the first time in 12 years after losing their knockout play-off tie to Real Madrid, the Champions League favourites and holders who will play local rivals Atletico Madrid for a place in the quarter-finals.
The first legs of the last-16 ties will be played on 4-5 March, with the return legs a week later.
The Champions League bracket also makes each club’s path to the final a little clearer, and below we explore Arsenal, Liverpool and Villa’s possible opponents further down the line.
Should Arsenal overcome PSV, then they will play the winner of Real Madrid’s tie with Atletico in the quarters.
The four possible semi-final opponents for Arsenal are PSG, Liverpool, Villa and Bruges.
Arsenal are on the other side of the draw to Bayern Munich and Barcelona, meaning they cannot face those two sides until the final.
The Gunners are out to win the Champions League for the very first time, and are viewed as joint-third favourites with Barcelona, behind Real Madrid and Liverpool.
Villa know that Liverpool or PSG will await in the quarters providing they can overcome Bruges in the last 16.
From there, Arsenal, PSV, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are their possible semi-final opponents.
Villa are viewed as a long shot to reach the final in Munich, and like Arsenal and Liverpool they are on the other side of the draw to Bayern and Barca.
Second favourites for Champions League glory, behind only Real Madrid, Liverpool’s pursuit for a seventh European Cup is going to take some doing.
Overcome PSG and then it will be Villa or Bruges in the quarters.
Like Villa, possible semi-final opponents for Liverpool include Arsenal, PSV, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool are therefore on the other side of the draw to Barca and Bayern, with Inter and Borussia Dortmund also potential final opponents.
The Champions League final takes place on 31 May at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena.
The stadium last hosted the Champions League final in 2012, when Chelsea beat Bayern Munich on penalties to win their first European Cup, Didier Drogba scoring the winning spot-kick to upset the German club at their own ground.
Comments
Leave a Comment