UCL: Real Madrid to face Atletico Madrid in round of 16
The world’s most successful club and reigning Champions League holders, Real Madrid, will play local rivals Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the competition, while Bayern Munich have been drawn against Bundesliga title challengers Victor Boniface’s Bayer Leverkusen.
Real Madrid defeated Premier League champions Manchester City 6-3 on aggregate in the playoffs and will now make the short trip across town to face Atletico, the side they beat in the 2014 and 2016 finals.
Bayern Munich, who last won the title in 2020, take on Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen, who edged them to the Bundesliga title last season.
Bayern currently lead Leverkusen by eight points in the league, and the two teams played out a goalless draw last weekend.
Group stage table-toppers Liverpool will travel to face Paris Saint-Germain for the first leg after the French side humiliated Brest with a 10-0 aggregate win in the playoffs.
Barcelona will play Benfica, while Arsenal have been drawn against Eredivisie title challengers PSV Eindhoven.
Aston Villa, who last played in the knockout stage in 1983, have been drawn against Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika’s Club Brugge, while 2023 runners-up Inter Milan will take on Feyenoord.
Round of 16 Fixtures:
★ Paris Saint-Germain vs. Liverpool
★ Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa
★ Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid
★ PSV Eindhoven vs. Arsenal
★ Benfica vs. Barcelona
★ Borussia Dortmund vs. Lille
★ Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen
★ Feyenoord vs. Inter Milan
