UEFA Champions League Draw: The draw for the knockout round play-offs of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League and Europa League unfolded at UEFA headquarters on Monday.
Defending champion Manchester City received a favorable draw for the UEFA Champions League round of 16, being paired with Copenhagen, the Danish champion making their first appearance at this stage since 2011.
The highlight of the draw was the matchup featuring Napoli against Barcelona, the champions of Italy against the winners of La Liga respectively.
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Paris Saint-Germain, after finishing second in its group, drew with Real Sociedad, a team making its return to the Champions League after a decade. Meanwhile, Real Madrid, eyeing a record-extending 15th European Cup title, is set to play against Leipzig.
Last season's beaten finalist, Inter Milan, are slated to face Atletico Madrid in another thrilling encounter.
The round of 16 draw also includes Porto vs Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven vs Borussia Dortmund, and Lazio will be up against the German champions Bayern Munich.
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UEFA Champions League Draw
Porto (Portugal) vs Arsenal (England)
Napoli (Italy) vs Barcelona (Spain)
Paris Saint-Germain (France) vs Real Sociedad (Spain)
Inter Milan (Italy) vs Atletico Madrid (Spain)
PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) vs Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Lazio (Italy) vs Bayern Munich (Germany)
Copenhagen (Denmark) vs Manchester City (England)
Leipzig (Germany) vs Real Madrid (Spain)
Round of 16 ties ✅#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/N3xvSSNw1w
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 18, 2023
It is important to note that teams cannot play against opponents from their own country or those they faced in the group stage during the round of 16 clash.
Among the group winners were defending champion Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Barcelona.
The draw comprises eight former champions who have collectively won 33 of the 67 titles since the inception of the European Cup in 1955. The two-legged round-of-16 matchups are scheduled to be played from Feb. 13-14.
In addition to the earnings accumulated in earlier stages, the winning team of the 2024 Champions League will be awarded 23.5 million euros and secure an automatic qualification for the UEFA Super Cup.
In addition to the UCL draw, the UEFA Europa League (UEL) play-offs draw results were also revealed.
UEFA Europa League Draw
Feyenoord (Netherlands) vs Roma (Italy)
AC Milan (Italy) vs Rennes (France)
Lens (France) vs Freiburg (Germany)
Young Boys (Switzerland) vs Sporting (Portugal)
Benfica (Portugal) vs Toulouse (France)
Braga (Portugal) vs Qarabag (Azerbaijan)
Galatasaray (Turkey) vs Sparta Prague (Czech Republic)
Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) vs Marseille (France)
Knockout round play-off ties are set! 🤩#UELdraw || #UEL pic.twitter.com/jRDSob63rz
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) December 18, 2023