Real Madrid is set for another thrilling matchup against Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16 draw, with reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain set to face off against Chelsea.
The two clubs have clashed in the knockout stages of the UCL for the past four seasons, with Madrid emerging victorious in three of those matchups. Although the Premier League side had the option to meet Bodo/Glimt, they were matched against a well-known opponent. Notably, City secured a win over the 15-time champions during the group stage in December.
In other noteworthy pairings, PSG will battle Chelsea in a replay of last summer’s Club World Cup final, while Barcelona has drawn Newcastle United after the latter’s impressive win against Qarabag in the playoff round.
The draw, held at UEFA’s Nyon headquarters on Friday, also matched top seeds from the league phase, including Arsenal against Bayer Leverkusen, and Liverpool taking on Galatasaray.
Tottenham will meet Atlético Madrid as six Premier League sides aim for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Additionally, Bodo/Glimt will face Sporting Lisbon following their surprising victory over Internazionale, while Bayern Munich will challenge Atalanta.
The seeded teams, who finished in the league phase’s top eight, were drawn against one of the eight playoff winners and will benefit from hosting the second leg at their home ground.
The first leg matches are slated for March 10-11, with the return fixtures scheduled for March 17-18.
– Explore the Champions League bracket, format, and more
Thanks to this year’s bracket setup, we also have insights on potential paths for teams to reach the semifinals and final.