Champions League: Madrid derby, Bayern vs. Leverkusen and Liverpool-PSG in Spherical of 16 draw
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File image of Kylian Mbappe of Actual Madrid and Jose Gimenez of Atletico de Madrid in motion in the course of the LaLiga match between Actual Madrid CF and Atletico de Madrid. The Madrid rivals will meet within the Champions League Spherical of 16
| Photograph Credit score: Getty Photographs
A Madrid derby. A German traditional. A uncommon assembly between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. The Champions League obtained extra heavyweight clashes when the draw for the spherical of 16 was made Friday (February 21, 2025).
Defending champion Actual Madrid’s reward for ousting 2023 title winner Manchester Metropolis this week within the knockout playoffs is 2 metropolis derbies in opposition to Atletico Madrid — the group it beat within the closing in 2014 and 2016.
Diego Simeone remains to be Atletico’s coach a decade later, once more going through Carlo Ancelotti who gained the 2014 closing. Ancelotti later took jobs throughout Europe earlier than returning to Madrid and successful two extra Champions League titles for a contest file 5 as a coach.
Bayern Munich was paired with Bayer Leverkusen — the Bundesliga chief in opposition to its defending champion, who performed a decent 0-0 draw simply final weekend. Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has by no means misplaced to Bayern in six video games throughout three seasons, together with three conferences this season.
Liverpool was the top-seeded group within the draw after ending first within the 36-team standings final month however nonetheless obtained a troublesome project because the Premier League chief was paired with No. 15 seed PSG.
Liverpool and PSG have by no means met in knockout video games within the Champions League or the outdated European Cup. Their earlier conferences have been within the group stage in 2018-19, buying and selling dwelling wins in a season that ended with Liverpool successful its sixth European Cup title.
The primary-leg video games can be performed March 4-5, with the return video games one week later.
Additionally within the draw, No. 2 seed Barcelona was paired with Benfica — which it beat 5-4 in Lisbon one month in the past — Arsenal will face PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan performs Feyenoord.
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Brazilian former participant Giovane Elber reveals the ticket of English membership Liverpool, in the course of the UEFA Champions League spherical of 16, quarter-final and semi-final attracts, on the UEFA headquarters
| Photograph Credit score:
AP
Feyenoord goes again to San Siro, the place it already eradicated AC Milan this week within the knockout playoffs spherical. All three Italian groups within the playoffs misplaced, together with one other exit to a Dutch group when PSV obtained previous Juventus in additional time.
Membership Brugge, which obtained into the knockout stage within the twenty fourth and closing qualification place, will face Aston Villa, which it already beat in November. Borussia Dortmund will play Lille.
The Madrid and German matchups weren’t attainable within the outdated Champions League format the place groups from the identical nation couldn’t face one another within the spherical of 16. The brand new tennis-style seeded bracket permits for these derbies, and for groups to reunite after already enjoying one another within the league part of the competitors.
Friday’s draw additionally put Actual Madrid and Liverpool in the identical half of the bracket and on a path to satisfy within the semifinals.
Each may have English opponents within the quarterfinals. The Madrid derby winner will face Arsenal or PSV, and if Liverpool eliminates PSG it is going to face Villa or Brugge.
Printed – February 22, 2025 11:21 am IST