Liverpool, the Premier League leaders, are gearing up to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16. Arsenal will take on PSV Eindhoven, while Aston Villa is set to clash with Club Brugge.
Defending champions Real Madrid, who knocked out Manchester City in the knockout phase play-offs, will go head-to-head with their city rivals Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich will face Bayer Leverkusen in an all-German encounter.
This will be the first time Liverpool and PSG meet since the 2018-19 season, when the Reds claimed their sixth European title.
The winner of the Liverpool vs. PSG match will move on to the quarter-finals to face either Aston Villa or Club Brugge. If Arsenal manages to defeat PSV, they will meet either the record 15-time champions Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the last eight.
The two-legged last 16 fixtures are set for 4-5 March and 11-12 March.
Champions League Last 16 Fixtures & Kickoff Times
Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa
- First leg: 4 March (17:45 GMT)
- Second leg: 12 March (20:00 GMT)
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid
- First leg: 4 March (20:00 GMT)
- Second leg: 12 March (20:00 GMT)
Borussia Dortmund vs. Lille
- First leg: 4 March (20:00 GMT)
- Second leg: 12 March (17:45 GMT)
PSV Eindhoven vs. Arsenal
- First leg: 4 March (20:00 GMT)
- Second leg: 12 March (20:00 GMT)
Feyenoord vs. Inter Milan
- First leg: 5 March (17:45 GMT)
- Second leg: 11 March (20:00 GMT)
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Liverpool
- First leg: 5 March (20:00 GMT)
- Second leg: 11 March (20:00 GMT)
Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen
- First leg: 5 March (20:00 GMT)
- Second leg: 11 March (20:00 GMT)
Benfica vs. Barcelona
- First leg: 5 March (20:00 GMT)
- Second leg: 11 March (17:45 GMT)
Liverpool, the leaders of the Premier League, are gearing up for an exciting match against the reigning French champions, Paris Saint-Germain, in what is expected to be a thrilling encounter.
PSG was on the verge of elimination but managed to secure a 15th place finish in the league phase thanks to a strong finish. They faced a setback against Arsenal but rebounded with a win over Manchester City, which set the stage for an all-French knockout phase play-off against Brest, where they dominated with a 10-0 aggregate victory.
One of PSG’s main threats is Ousmane Dembélé, who has emerged as one of Europe’s top scorers this season, finding the net six times in the competition.
On the other hand, Liverpool has had a tough time in France, having not won any of their last five away matches against French teams. Their last win on French soil dates back to 2008 in the Champions League against Marseille.
“At this stage of the tournament, the quality of the opposition is always going to be incredibly high, and PSG is a club with a strong European pedigree,” commented Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
“They secured their spot in the last 16 with an impressive victory over Brest and had significant results in the league phase, defeating Stuttgart, Manchester City, Girona, and Salzburg.”
Should Liverpool manage to get past Luis Enrique’s team, they could potentially face Premier League rivals Aston Villa in April, assuming Villa progresses past Belgian champions Club Brugge. Brugge finished 24th in the league phase before eliminating Atalanta in the play-offs.
However, Club Brugge has already bested Villa in the league phase, handing Unai Emery’s squad one of their only two losses in the competition.
“I’m really pleased because we will share this experience with our fans,” said Villa manager Unai Emery regarding the upcoming match.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is set to take on Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven, who previously defeated a rotated Liverpool squad 3-2 in January, finishing 14th in the league phase.
Arsenal has a strong history against PSV, having secured three victories in the Champions League group stages, including an impressive 4-0 win at home last season.
“We know the challenge that lies ahead,” stated Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. “We’ve played them before, and they’re a formidable team. At this level, every opponent is of the highest quality.”
‘Liverpool May Feel Slightly Disheartened’ – Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock shared his thoughts on The Football News Show, suggesting that Liverpool might feel somewhat disappointed with their draw against Paris Saint-Germain, as they would have preferred to face Benfica.
However, he pointed out that to secure Champions League glory, teams must be prepared to go up against top-quality opposition.
“Liverpool will back themselves against PSG, who have shown inconsistency at times,” Warnock remarked.
On the other hand, Aston Villa will likely be satisfied with drawing Club Brugge. Manager Unai Emery has significant experience in European competitions, particularly in the Europa League, where he has frequently enjoyed success.
“In the Champions League, he led Villarreal on a remarkable run in the 2021-22 season, proving he knows how to handle these high-stakes matches,” Warnock added.
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