The Champions League playoffs have come to a close, and with that, we’ve got a good idea of the upcoming round of 16 matches – at least, half of them are set in stone. The highly anticipated draw will take place on Friday, February 21 at 12:00 p.m., when we’ll finally know all the matchups leading up to the Munich final.
Real Madrid has secured their spot in the eighths after defeating Manchester City in both legs, and they’re waiting to see if they’ll face Bayer Leverkusen – which would mark Xabi Alonso’s return to the Santiago Bernabéu – or Atlético de Madrid, in another thrilling Madrid derby that’s sure to generate plenty of excitement. The possibility of a derby match is always a tantalizing one, and it’s hard not to imagine the electric atmosphere that would come with it.
Meanwhile, Atlético de Madrid, who finished fifth in the group stage, is waiting to see if they’ll take on Bayern Munich or their city rivals, Real Madrid. The former would be a tough test for Atlético, given Bayern’s impressive form this season, while the latter would be a highly charged encounter between two teams with a deep history.
As for Barcelona, who finished second in La Liguilla, they’ll be facing either PSG, after the French side defeated Brest in both meetings, or Benfica, who eliminated Monaco. Both of these potential matchups would be fascinating in their own right, with PSG’s star-studded squad and Benfica’s impressive European pedigree making for intriguing opponents.
It’s worth noting that all the teams that finished in the top eight of their respective leagues – including Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter, Atlético, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa – will play the second leg of their round of 16 ties at home. This could give them a significant advantage, as they’ll have the chance to capitalize on their home support and familiar surroundings.
Let’s take a closer look at the possible matchups for each of these teams. For Real Madrid, the options are:
Real Madrid – Atlético de Madrid
Real Madrid -! Bayer Leverkusen
For Atlético de Madrid, the possibilities are:
Atlético de Madrid – Real Madrid
Atlético de Madrid – Bayern Munich
And for Barcelona, the potential matchups are:
Barcelona – PSG
Barcelona – Benfica
These are the only two options for each team, and the draw will determine which path they’ll take. One thing’s for sure, though – the round of 16 is shaping up to be a thrilling and unpredictable ride.
