Champions League last-16 draw: What to expect
The draw will be held on Friday afternoon
The Champions League knockout stage is set, and the journey to European glory continues.
After the inaugural play-off phase concluded on Wednesday, the field of 16 teams is confirmed, with the last-16 draw scheduled for Friday, February 21, at 15:00 GST. Here’s everything you need to know about the draw and what lies ahead.
How the draw works
The top eight teams from the league phase automatically secured their place in the last 16. These include Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa.
They will be joined by the eight winners from the knockout play-offs: Bayern Munich, Benfica, Club Brugge, Feyenoord, Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund.
The draw operates on a seeded system, with the top eight teams paired based on their final league positions. These pairings dictate potential matchups throughout the knockout rounds. From this stage onward, the tournament follows a bracket format, with pre-determined paths to the final.
Notably, the away goals rule is no longer in effect, levelling the playing field for teams across the two-legged ties.
Key Details of the Knockout Rounds
Last 16: March 4/5 and March 11/12
Quarter-finals: April 8/9 and April 15/16
Semi-finals: April 29/30 and May 6/7
Final: May 31 at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena
The draw will also determine which teams host the first leg and which host the return leg.
Matchups to watch
Each top-seeded team will face a play-off winner in the round of 16. Here’s a closer look at some potential ties:
Liverpool: The top-ranked team from the league phase could face either Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica. PSG, in particular, looked unstoppable in their play-off tie, demolishing Brest 10-0 on aggregate.
Arsenal: The Gunners will be up against either Feyenoord, who knocked out AC Milan, or PSV Eindhoven, who edged past Juventus in extra time.
Real Madrid The reigning champions, who triumphed over Manchester City in the play-offs, will face local rivals Atlético de Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen.
English teams lead the coefficient race
The Premier League continues to dominate Europe, with six of its seven representatives advancing across all UEFA competitions. Despite Manchester City’s elimination at the hands of Real Madrid, England remains on track to secure an additional Champions League spot for next season.
Meanwhile, Italy and Spain trail in the coefficient race, with Serie A enduring a particularly poor run in the play-offs. AC Milan, Juventus, and Atalanta were all eliminated, limiting Italy’s ability to gather points. Germany and France face similar challenges, with only Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, PSG, and Lille still in contention.
Portugal, however, has shown resilience, with three teams - Benfica, Porto, and Braga - still alive across various competitions.
With the expanded Champions League format increasing the number of matches from 125 to 189, fans have already witnessed thrilling encounters. The knockout stage promises even more drama as Europe’s best clash for supremacy.
The draw will define the next phase of this prestigious tournament, setting the stage for unforgettable battles. Will Liverpool continue their dominant form? Can PSG finally conquer Europe? Or will an underdog emerge to upset the established order?
