The second, and hopefully final, draw for the last 16 of the Champions League has taken place after the first round of fixtures was declared void by UEFA. That decision came after Manchester United’s ball had been left out when drawing Atletico Madrid's opponents and Liverpool’s had been wrongly included, bringing the integrity of the draw into question.
But now we know who Europe’s elite will face in the first knockout round of this season’s Champions League.
Ralf Rangnick’s United, who won Group F with a game to spare thanks to a whole host of Ronaldo goals will, as fate would have it, take on Atletico Madrid for a place in the quarter-finals and given the German boss has two months to work with his side ahead of this tie, United fans will hope for a big improvement on what they have seen so far, as the players grow accustomed to his style.
Pep Guardiola’s men will now face Sporting in a more than winnable tie for the Premier League leaders and having beaten PSG in the group stages will be confident of heading deep into the competition. Talking of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, the Parisians have been drawn in the tie of the round against Real Madrid, as the 13 time winners take on the new boys on the block, still hunting for their first UCL crown.
Meanwhile Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who won six out of six in their ‘group of death’, scoring 17 goals along the way will take on Inter Milan, who finished second behind Real Madrid in Group D.
The late goal Chelsea conceded against Zenit St Petersburg cost them top spot and as a result they will face Lille while group winners Juventus have been handed a tie against Europa League winner Villarreal. That will come as somewhat of a relief to Thomas Tuchel although he will be sure not to underestimate the side that pulled off Europe’s biggest shock last season, as they beat PSG to the Ligue 1 title.
Elsewhere in the last 16, FC Salzburg face 2020 winners Bayern Munich, while two former winners also meet in the last sixteen as the other club to enjoy a perfect group stage, AFC Ajax, will meet Benfica, who won this competition in 1960-61 and 1961-62.
Of course this year in the knockout stages there will be no away goals for the first time, which could lead to a change in style for those sides playing away from home. The first legs will take place on the 15th/16th February 2022.
Full draw
FC Salzburg vs Bayern Munich
Sporting CP vs Manchester City
Benfica vs Ajax
Chelsea vs Lille
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United
Villarreal vs Juventus
Inter Milan vs Liverpool
PSG vs Real Madrid
