Liverpool face Real Madrid – plus Man United play Barcelona in Europa League

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Last season’s Champions League finalists Real Madrid and Liverpool have been paired together in this season’s last 16.

The Reds finished runners-up in their group behind Napoli and will host the reigning European and La Liga champions at Anfield in February.

Real beat the Reds 1-0 in the 2022 final in Paris in May, a match marred by organizational chaos which led to the kick-off being delayed.

Premier League champions and 2021 Champions League finalists Manchester City have been drawn to face German side RB Leipzig – fourth in last season’s Bundesliga – in the last 16.

Tottenham, who sealed top spot in their group with a last-gasp winner from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg away at Marseille, have been drawn to face Italian champions AC Milan with the first leg at San Siro.

Chelsea, winners of the competition in 2012 and 2021, will be up against Bundesliga runners-up Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16.

The first leg ties will be played on February 14, 15, 21 and 22, with the second legs on March 7, 8, 14 and 15.

Meanwhile, Manchester United were drawn against Barcelona in the Europa League play-off round.

Jason Burt’s Champions League draw verdict RB Leipzig v Manchester City

City will be pleased with this draw. Yes, Leipzig won four games in a row to finish second behind Real Madrid in Celtic’s group and have a host of exciting young players – not least Christopher Nkunku and Josko Gvardiol, both wanted by Chelsea – and have also added more experience. But City should prove far too strong. Sexual Leipzig is dangerous and beat City in the group stages last season and also scored three times (Nkunku hat-trick) at the Etihad.

Winner: Manchester City Club Brugge v Benfica

Perhaps two surprise packages with Benfica having shocked Paris Saint-Germain by finishing above them in their group. By dint of that, and playing the second leg at home, and their European pedigree they will go into this tie as favorites. There was little expectation that Brugge would reach this stage and they cannot be discounted with however striker Ferran Jutgla a rising star.

Winner: Benfica Liverpool v Real Madrid

A reprise of last season’s final and a chance for revenge. But it feels like a punishing draw for Liverpool given they gained 15 points and yet finished second in the group stages. Despite Liverpool’s struggles this season and despite Real’s imperious form it is a 50:50 game. But the fact the second leg is at the Bernabeu, where the Spaniards also appear to pull it off, tips it in Madrid’s favour. Just.

Winner: Real Madrid AC Milan v Tottenham Hotspur

Antonio Conte – the former Inter Milan coach – will relish a return to Italy and to the San Siro. He will also fancy Tottenham’s chances of progressing. Milan are the Serie A champions but are inexperienced and lost home and away to Chelsea. It will be close but Conte has to finally improve that appalling record in European knock-out ties and Spurs will recall the 2011 meeting with Joe Jordan and Gennaro Gattuso clashing on the pitch.

Winner: Tottenham Hotspur Eintracht Frankfurt v Napoli

The Italians were the top-scorers at the group stage and were a team that everyone else wanted to avoid. If they maintain their form they will be one of the favorites to win the Champions League, never mind this tie. Even so Frankfurt should not be under-estimated after finished above Sporting and Marseille in the tightest of groups.

Winner: Napoli Borussia Dortmund v Chelsea

Another evenly balanced tie with Dortmund having acquitted themselves well in Manchester City’s group where they were unfortunate to lose away. For them it is all about Jude Bellingham, who scored in four successive games, with the added interest that Chelsea are among their suitors. Again it could be tight but Chelsea to edge it even if both teams appear to be works-in-progress.

Winner: Chelsea Inter Milan v Porto

Although Porto won their group – with Atletico Madrid imploding and finishing bottom – they will go into this as underdogs against Inter who, of course, knocked out Barcelona in the toughest of groups. Still it has been a tricky campaign for Inter who have struggled domestically and with Romelu Lukaku having a torrid time through injury.

Winner: Inter Milan Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich

PSG have built their squad to win the Champions League and still no-one quite knows how they will do especially with their stars – Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe – being so geared up towards the World Cup. Bayern breezed their group but, overall, have been a bit patchy and despite scoring lots of goals have not replaced Robert Lewandowski.

Winner: Paris Saint-Germain .

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