In an exciting draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Italian club Inter Milan, last season's runners-up, has been matched against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. Additionally, La Liga champions Barcelona are set to take on Serie A winners Napoli in one of the stage's most anticipated matchups.
The draw, which took place on Monday at UEFA's headquarters in the Swiss city of Nyon, has set the stage for gripping contests across Europe. Here's a snapshot of the complete last 16 fixtures:
- Portuguese side Porto vs. English club Arsenal
- Italy's Napoli vs. Spain's Barcelona
- France's Paris Saint-Germain vs. Spanish team Real Sociedad
- Italian club Inter Milan vs. Spain's Atletico Madrid
- Dutch team PSV Eindhoven vs. Germany's Borussia Dortmund
- Italy’s Lazio vs. Germany’s Bayern Munich
- Danish club Copenhagen vs. English side Manchester City
- German club RB Leipzig vs. Spanish giants Real Madrid
The first-leg encounters will take place on February 13, 14, 20, and 21, 2024, with home advantages going to the teams drawn second. The second-leg battles will unfold on March 5, 6, 12, and 13. The draw ensured that teams from the same group and the same country would not face each other, yet this could change in the quarter-finals.
Here are the first-leg matches scheduled:
Tuesday, February 13, 2024:
- Copenhagen vs. Manchester City
- RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid
Wednesday, February 14, 2024:
- Paris Saint-Germain vs. Real Sociedad
- Lazio vs. Bayern Munich
Tuesday, February 20, 2024:
- Inter Milan vs. Atletico Madrid
- PSV Eindhoven vs. Borussia Dortmund
Wednesday, February 21, 2024:
- Porto vs. Arsenal
- Napoli vs. Barcelona
Return fixtures:
Tuesday, March 5, 2024:
- Real Sociedad vs. Paris Saint-Germain
- Bayern Munich vs. Lazio
Wednesday, March 6, 2024:
- Manchester City vs. Copenhagen
- Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig
Tuesday, March 12, 2024:
- Arsenal vs. Porto
- Barcelona vs. Napoli
Wednesday, March 13, 2024:
- Atletico Madrid vs. Inter Milan
- Borussia Dortmund vs. PSV Eindhoven
Manchester City, last year’s champions and runners-up in 2021, have been drawn against group stage surprise package Copenhagen, who finished second to Bayern Munich in their group and contributed to the elimination of Manchester United. The team, which seeks to retain their title for the first time in their history, topped their group flawlessly.
City’s Football Director Txiki Begiristain commented post-draw that Copenhagen is a familiar team with impressive performances and a fantastic stadium. However, he noted things have changed after two years. City had dominated Copenhagen last season in the group stage before securing their historic title.
Barcelona, a five-time champion with their last triumph in 2015, is facing a tough challenge from Italian champions Napoli, who finished second in their group to Real Madrid.
Conversely, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are poised for favorable encounters against Lazio and RB Leipzig, respectively. The director of Real Madrid, Emilio Butragueño, emphasized that every match in the Champions League is difficult and that top performance is key to advancing.
Paris Saint-Germain also received a notably lenient draw, matched with Real Sociedad. The Parisian club narrowly escaped from the group stages and now hopes to claim its first Champions League title.
Porto, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, and Borussia Dortmund are all set for evenly matched confrontations that promise to be as thrilling as any.
Each of these ties offers a blend of tactical battles and individual brilliance that epitomizes the excitement of European club football's premier competition. The stage is set for the round of 16, and the anticipation for February’s fixtures has never been higher.
