Champions League Draw : All possible matchups
The Round-of-16 draw for the UEFA Champions League will take place on Monday, 14th December at 12:00 CET (16:30 IST) at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The representatives of most powerful clubs in the world will collectively hold their breath in nervousness as Gianni Infantino decides their fate in the competition.
Also read: Chelsea vs PSG: Live streaming info, team news, match predictions, squad, date and time
The draw will take place from two pots, one with group winners and another with runners up. A team cannot face a team from the same nation, nor a team it faced in the group stage. In addition, the UEFA Executive Committe have decided that teams from Russia and Ukraine will not face eath other, due to the sensistive political situation between the two regions.
Group winners have an added advantage as they play the second leg at home.
Group A:
Winners: Real Madrid – The Spanish side were propelled to top spot in their group by a record breaking haul of 11 goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, the most in a group stage. They have potentially dicey trips to Italy and England to be wary off, hoping to avoid Juventus, Roma & Arsenal. Madrid can also draw PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv & Gent.
Runners Up: Paris Saint-Germain – The French champions finished a creditable 2nd to Real Madrid, but will be disappointed as they have to face formidable teams in the Round-of-16. The Parisians will most likely be part of mouth-watering draws against Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester City or Atletico Madrid. Zenit St. Petersburg & Wolfsburg are the only relatively ‘safe’ draws that PSG can get.
Group B:
Winners: VFL Wolfsburg – Last season’s Bundesliga runners up were surprise winners in a group containing Manchester United, but rallied to qualify in 1st place. This marks their debut in the knockout stage of the UEFA CL, where the Germans will hope to avoid daunting trips to PSG, Juventus, Roma & Arsenal. The Germans will hope to be drawn against Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv, Gent to have a better chance at proceeding to the quarterfinals for the first time.
Runners Up: PSV Eindhoven – PSV pipped Manchester United to qualify for the knockout stage, the farthest a Dutch side has come since they last made it to the quarterfinals in 2006/07. The Dutch champions have potentially very intimidating trips to Real Madrid, Atlético, Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern or Chelsea to contend with. Zenit are possibly the only team that PSV would want, but odds of 1/7 aren’t the best.
Group C:
Winners: Atletico Madrid – The Spaniards were expected to finish top of their group and duly obliged, completing the feat for the third time in a row. Their reward is to potentially face PSG, Juventus, Roma & Arsenal. Atletico will hope for a relatively easier draw against PSV, Dynamo Kyiv & Gent.
Runners Up: Benfica – The Portuguese champions are more synonymous with the Europa League, having only qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League twice in 8 attempts. Bela Guttman’s curse may not be limited to European finals, as Benfica can face Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern, Chelsea & Zenit, all of whom are sides that could dump the Reds out of the competition.
Group D:
Winners: Manchester City – City’s miserable European form has not continued into this season, the Premier League title contenders finishing top of their Champions League group for the first time in their history. The Sky Blues will only fear PSG out of the teams they can face. They will consider PSV, Benfica, Roma, Dynamo Kyiv & Gent as teams they ought to beat to progress.
Runners Up: Juventus – The Bianconeri only finished a point behind Manchester City and could potentially rue finishing second, as they could now face Real Madrid, Atlético, Barcelona, Bayern or Chelsea. Juventus are can take positives from the fact that they’re unbeaten in 16 European games, a run that can continue if they draw Wolfsburg or Zenit.