Champions League Last 16 Draw: Every English Club on the Same Bracket Side, Real Madrid to Face Atletico Madrid, PSG and Liverpool Collide

Following the conclusion of playoff rounds on Wednesday, the 2024/25 season of the Champions League has officially reached its business end. This is the point where clubs start daring to dream about lifting the iconic trophy. Now that the knockout bracket is set all the way to the final, fans can gear up for some electrifying matchups. However, if you haven’t caught up on all the fixtures yet, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.

The top eight teams from the league phase – Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Aston Villa, Lille, Bayer Leverkusen, and Atletico Madrid – earned a direct spot in the Last 16. Meanwhile, teams that finished between 9th and 24th had to battle it out in a playoff round for a chance to join them. The teams that made it through the playoffs were PSG, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, PSV, Feyenoord, Bayern Munich, Club Brugge, and Benfica. 

Now, let’s break down how the Round of 16 draw works. Teams are paired based on their league rankings (1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and so on), with each pair slotted into a position to face a playoff round winner. The draw process involves four bowls containing the seeded teams, and their bracket side is determined as the draw unfolds. It all starts with the teams ranked 7th and 8th and progresses up to the 1st and 2nd-ranked teams. The first team drawn is placed in the silver side of the bracket, while its paired team automatically moves to the blue side. As per usual, seeded teams generally get the advantage of playing the second leg at home. 

With that out of the way, PSG – who overcame Stade Brestois by 10-0 aggregate – will face Liverpool in a blockbuster Round of 16 tie. Spanish giants Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid are set to clash in a fiery Madrid derby, adding another thrilling chapter to their iconic rivalry. Meanwhile, Premier League hopefuls Arsenal take on PSV Eindhoven, while Inter Milan prepare for a tough battle against Feyenoord. In Germany, an all-Bundesliga showdown awaits as Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen go head-to-head. Borussia Dortmund will be looking to get past Lille, while Barcelona face a tricky test against Benfica. 

One of the most intriguing aspects of the draw is the placement of the three remaining English clubs – Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa – all on the same side of the bracket. With Manchester City out of the tournament, the road to the final just got even more interesting for the Premier League sides. If both Liverpool and Villa win their respective Last 16 ties, they could collide as early as the quarterfinals. Arsenal, on the other hand, could find themselves facing one of their English counterparts in the semifinals – but only if they navigate past a potential showdown with either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid. 

The first leg of the Round of 16 will take place on 4th and 5th March, with the return fixtures scheduled for 11th and 12th March. However, fans will have to wait a little longer for the full schedule, as UEFA is still working out potential same-city clashes before finalizing the fixture list later today.