Barcelona to face Napoli in the Champions League R16: Details
The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw happened on December 18 at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. After a grueling group stage, 16 teams will fight it out to win the ultimate crown. Reigning champions Manchester City will lock horns against Danish champions FC Copenhagen. The 14-time UCL winners Real Madrid will face Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig. Here are further details.
Here is the complete UCL Round of 16 draw
Arsenal will face Portugal's FC Porto. Meanwhile, Italian giants Napoli will face Spanish heavyweights Barcelona. French champions Paris Saint-Germain will lock horns against La Liga outfit Real Sociedad. Serie A leaders Inter Milan will face Atletico Madrid, while PSV will take on Borussia Dortmund. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich and Manchester City will face Lazio and FC Copenhagen respectively. Lastly, Real Madrid will face Leipzig.
Schedule of the Round of 16 fixtures
The first leg of the UCL 2023-24 round of 16 will be played on February 13-14 and February 20-21, 2024. Meanwhile, the second leg of the Round of 16 matches is scheduled to be played on March 5-6 and March 12-13, 2024.
Napoli facing Barcelona will be the biggest clash
There is absolutely no doubt that Napoli's clash against Barcelona will be the headliner in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 this season. Despite not being at their best, Barcelona topped their group, winning four out of six group stage fixtures. Meanwhile, Napoli are going through a rough phase this season as they sacked manager Rudi Garcia and replaced him with Walter Mazzari.
Paris Saint-Germain will face the tricky Real Sociedad
Paris Saint-Germain were one of the unseeded teams in this draw after they finished second in Group F and progressed to the knockouts by maintaining a superior goal difference. Hence, they could have faced any team but they will lock horns against Real Sociedad. Sociedad topped their group and were also unbeaten. They are a very competitive outfit under Imanol Algucil's leadership.
Tricky fixtures for Dortmund and Leipzig; relatively easier for Bayern
Borussia Dortmund are very inconsistent in the UCL knockouts. Although they topped their group, finishing above PSG, and Milan, their clash against PSV will be fascinating. A tough test awaits Leipzig against Real Madrid. Leipzig are in decent form and will look to give a tough fight. Lastly, Bayern will face Lazio and considering their form, it should be easy for the Bavarians.
Second UCL knockout appearance for FC Copenhagen
Danish champions, FC Copenhagen overcame all odds to reach the UCL knockouts in a group featuring Bayern, Manchester United and Galatasaray. This is only their second UCL knockout since the 2011-12 season. They will now have their task cut out against Manchester City.
A look at the Europa League play-off draw
Here are the Europa League play-off fixtures: Feyenoord vs AS Roma, AC Milan vs Stade Rennes, Lens vs SC Freiburg, Young Boys vs Sporting CP, SL Benfica against Toulouse, SC Braga versus Qarabag, Galatasaray vs Sparta Praha, and Shakhtar Donetsk vs Olympique Marseille. The Europa League play-off matches are scheduled to take place on February 15 and February 22.
