With the group stage of the Champions League concluded, we now know 15 of the 16 teams who will comprise the knockout stage of this year’s tournament, with one place to be decided on Thursday evening. With Barcelona knocked out by Bayern Munich, the Catalan giants will not be a part of the post-Christmas phase for the first time in 18 years, while reigning champions Chelsea were held to a 3-3 draw by Zenit St Petersburg in their final group match, meaning they had to settle for second spot and a tie against a group winner.
Here is everything you need to know about the Champions League round of 16 draw.
When is the draw?
The draw will be held at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Monday 13 December. It will start at 11am.
How to follow the last-16 draw
The draw will be available to watch live via UEFA’s website.
Format
The draw is formatted with the 16 teams being split into two pots: seeded and unseeded. The seeded pots contain the clubs who topped their groups, giving them home advantage in the second leg of the two-legged tie. The unseeded teams are those who finished second in their group and will have their home leg of the tie first.
Teams from the same national association cannot be drawn against each other at this stage. This means that the four Premier League clubs cannot meet. Teams also cannot be drawn against sides they faced in the group stage either.
Seeded teams
Ajax (NED), Bayern Munich (GER), Juventus (ITA), Liverpool (ENG), LOSC Lille (FRA), Manchester City (ENG), Manchester United (ENG), Real Madrid (ESP)
Unseeded teams
Atletico Madrid (ESP), Benfica (POR), Chelsea (ENG), Inter Milan (ITA), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), RB Salzburg (AUT), Sporting CP (POR), Villarreal (ESP) or Atalanta (ITA)
When will the ties be played?
The first legs of the Round of 16 ties are scheduled for 15/16/22/23 February, with the second legs across 8/9/15/16 March.
The quarter-final draw will then be made on 18 March.
Changes
The away goals rule has been scrapped, meaning ties undecided after the two legs will go to extra time. If the result isn’t decided in those extra 30 minutes, a penalty shoot-out will decide which team progresses to the next round.
When and where is the final?
The final will take place on 28 May 2022, in St Petersburg, Russia.
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