The revamped Champions League format has brought a fresh layer of intensity to this year’s competition.
With the introduction of a play-off round before the highly anticipated round of 16, several big teams have already been knocked out earlier than expected, adding extra drama to the competition.
Man City and Other Big Names Eliminated
The play-off round saw some huge names fail to advance.
Defending champions, Manchester City, were sent packing after Real Madrid’s dominant 3-1 win in the second leg, which secured a 6-3 aggregate victory.
This loss marks an early exit for the 2023 winners.
Real Madrid wasn’t the only team to advance from the play-offs.
Other sides making it through to the round of 16 include Paris Saint-Germain, Club Brugge, Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Benfica.
Meanwhile, Celtic experienced heartbreak when a late goal from Bayern Munich knocked them out, while teams like Brest, AC Milan, Atalanta, Juventus, Sporting Lisbon, and Monaco also failed to make it past this stage.
Teams in the Round of 16 Who Avoided the Play-Offs
Liverpool, Arsenal, and Aston Villa have already secured their spots in the round of 16 by finishing in the top eight during the league phase, which means they won’t need to play in the play-off round.
These clubs will now prepare for their upcoming matches.
When Will the Round of 16 Take Place?
The round of 16 fixtures will be played during the weeks of March 4 and 5, with the return legs scheduled for March 11 and 12.
The draw to determine the matchups will take place on Friday, February 21, but there’s a unique and complicated procedure to follow.
Understanding the Draw Process
The draw for the round of 16 involves four separate bowls, two for each side of the bracket.
Each bowl contains two slips of paper, each representing the winners of the play-off round.
The process begins by drawing the first two balls from one of the silver bowls to determine the teams playing the first match of the quarter-final, followed by the second ball for the return leg.
This process will be repeated for each bowl, gradually completing the pairings for the quarter-finals.
There will also be a separate draw for the semi-finals, following a similar procedure.
A key detail to remember is that teams from the same domestic league can now face each other in the round of 16, which wasn’t always the case in previous seasons.
Additionally, teams may be drawn against sides they already faced in the league phase.
The Last-16 Matchups Are Taking Shape
Here’s a look at how the matchups are shaping up for the round of 16:
- PSG vs Liverpool or Barcelona
- Club Brugge vs Lille or Aston Villa
- Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen
- PSV Eindhoven vs Arsenal or Inter Milan
- Feyenoord vs Arsenal or Inter Milan
- Bayern Munich vs Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen
- Borussia Dortmund vs Lille or Aston Villa
- Benfica vs Liverpool or Barcelona
What’s Next for Teams in the Draw?
Arsenal and Inter Milan are set to face either PSV Eindhoven or Feyenoord, while Aston Villa and Lille will go up against Club Brugge or Borussia Dortmund.
A potential Madrid derby could be on the cards as Real Madrid’s win over Man City paves the way for a clash with Atletico Madrid, although Bayer Leverkusen remains another possible opponent for Ancelotti’s side.
The draw will also determine who Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and Bayer Leverkusen face next.
With such a mix of powerhouse teams and underdogs, the next phase of the competition is sure to deliver even more thrilling moments.
Now, it’s all about waiting for the draw on February 21 and the drama that will unfold in the coming weeks.