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The UEFA Champions League's last 16 draw has been announced in a ceremony at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, on Monday. The draw featured the 16 clubs that advanced from the group stage of the competition which includes the group winners who are seeded and the runners of each group who are unseeded. Post the draw, it has now been confirmed that PSG will face Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. As a result, there will be another Messi vs Ronaldo clash in the Champions League.
Meanwhile, reigning champions Chelsea have been handed a tie against Lille, Manchester City will take on Villarreal while Liverpool will take on FC Salzburg. Six-times champions Bayern Munich will face Atletico Madrid while record 13-times winners Real Madrid take on Portuguese side Benfica. Sporting CP will face Italian giant Juventus while Inter Milan face in-form Ajax.
UEFA Champions League round of sixteen.
Atletico Madrid - Bayern Munich
Liverpool - Salzburg
Real Madrid - Benfica
Manchester City - Villareal
Inter Milan - Ajax
Chelsea - Lille
Juventus - Sporting Lisbon
PSG - Manchester United
The first legs of the last 16 round are scheduled on 15, 16, 22 and 23 February respectively with a game each on match day. Similarly, the second legs of this round will be slated on 8, 9, 15 and 16 March. The seeded clubs which include Ajax, Bayern, Juventus, Liverpool, Lille, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid will be at home in the second leg.
Here's the draw in full:
However, this is the first Champions League season after the away-goal rule has been removed from all club competitions. This implies that matches that end at tie after 180 minutes of football-across both the legs- will be decided in the extra time irrespective of whether the goals have been scored in-home or away fixtures.
If still there is no clear winner after a maximum of 30 additional minutes, there will be a penalty shootout to separate the teams. The new rule is set to give a newer dynamic to the contest.