The Champions League knockout stage draw has taken place this morning with Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa learning their last-16 opponents.
Arsenal face a trip to the Netherlands against PSV, while Liverpool must travel to a rampant PSG side following their 10-0 aggregate win over Brest in the play-off round. Aston Villa will enjoy a trip to Belgium against Club Brugge as Unai Emery continues their European adventure.
Real Madrid’s impressive dismantling of Manchester City has earned them a Madrid derby against cross-city rivals Atletico, with Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich also offering a tasty all-Bundesliga tie. Barcelona take on Benfica, while Feyenoord's reward for knocking out AC Milan is a tie against their city rivals Inter Milan.
Liverpool could face Villa in the quarter-finals, while the Gunners will be eyeing up a last eight tie against one of the Madrid giants. Follow all the latest results and reaction from Nyon below:
Champions League draw LIVE
- The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League has been made
- Liverpool given tough draw against PSG
- Arsenal take on PSV
- Aston Villa face Club Brugge
- Real and Atletico to meet in Madrid derby
Champions League fixture dates: Second legs
16:12 , Jamie BraidwoodTuesday 11 March
Barcelona vs Benfica - 5:45pm
Inter vs Feyenoord - 8:00pm
Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich - 8:00pm
Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain - 8:00pm
Wednesday 12 March
Lille vs Borussia Dortmund - 5:45pm
Arsenal vs PSV - 8:00pm
Aston Villa vs Club Brugge - 8:00pm
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid - 8:00pm
Champions League fixture dates; First legs
16:12 , Jamie BraidwoodTuesday 4 March
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa - 5:45pm
Borussia Dortmund vs Lille - 8:00pm
PSV vs Arsenal - 8:00pm
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid - 8:00pm
Wednesday 5 March
Feyenoord vs Inter - 5:45pm
Bayern Munich vs Leverkusen - 8:00pm
Benfica vs Barcelona - 8:00pm
Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool - 8:00pm
Champions League fixture dates for Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa confirmed
16:12 , Jamie BraidwoodThe fixture schedule for the Champions League last-16 has been confirmed after Friday’s draw.
Arsenal travel to PSV and Aston Villa visit Club Brugge on Tuesday 4 March before Liverpool take on Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday 5 March.
The return legs take place the following week, with Liverpool facing PSG at Anfield on Tuesday 11 March and Arsenal and Aston Villa playing at home on Wednesday 12 March.
On the weekend in between, Liverpool welcome the Premier League’s bottom club Southampton on Saturday 8 March, the same day as Villa’s away match at Brentford.
Arsenal go to Old Trafford to play Manchester United on Sunday 9 March, with Ruben Amorim’s side travelling to Real Sociedad for the first leg of their Europa League tie on Thursday 6 March.
Champions League fixture dates for Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa confirmed
Champions League Round of 16 ties in full
12:00 , Harry Latham-CoylePSG vs Liverpool
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
PSV Eindhoven vs Arsenal
Benfica vs Barcelona
Borussia Dortmund vs Lille
Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen
Feyenoord vs Inter Milan
First legs to be played 4/5 March, second legs 11/12 March
Arsenal’s route to Champions League final revealed
11:45 , Kieran JacksonArsenal will face PSV in the last-16 of the Champions League as their route to the final emerged after Friday’s draw.
The Gunners finished an impressive third after the new and extended group phase of the competition, meaning they were seeded for the draw in Nyon.
Mikel Arteta’s side finished the group phase with victories over Sporting Lisbon, Monaco, Dinamo Zagreb and Girona, securing them a top-eight spot.
Arsenal were knocked out at the quarter-final stage last year, losing to Bayern Munich 3-2 on aggregate.
Let’s see how Arsenal could make the final in Munich on 31 May.
Liverpool’s route to Champions League final revealed
11:35 , Luke BakerLiverpool have found out who they will face in the Champions League knockout stages following the draw in Switzerland.
The Reds romped to the top of the standings in what was a memorable inaugural league phase for the six-time European champions. Arne Slot’s side managed to replicate their domestic form and secured statement wins over Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan.
Liverpool also defeated Bologna, RB Leipzig, Girona and Lille to comfortably wrap up qualification before slipping to defeat to PSV with a much-changed team on the final day.
The Premier League leaders now know they will face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 and their potential route to the final has now also become apparent.
Champions League draw
11:27 , Harry Latham-CoyleA kind draw for Aston Villa, Unai Emery may feel - though the winner of Liverpool/PSG awaits in the last eight if they can get by Club Brugge.
Here’s what the quarter finals will look like:
PSG/Liverpool vs Club Brugge/Aston Villa
Real Madrid/Atletico Madrid vs PSV Eindhoven/Arsenal
Benfica/Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund/Lille
Bayern Munich/Bayer Leverkusen vs Feyenoord/Inter Milan
Champions League draw
11:23 , Harry Latham-CoylePlenty of tasty ties to tuck into, there. A Madrid derby, Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen renewing their recent rivalry - it’s a fun little last-16 line-up.
Champions League draw - Round of 16 ties
11:19 , Harry Latham-CoyleBarcelona vs Benfica
Champions League draw - Round of 16 ties
11:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleLiverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain
Champions League draw - Round of 16 ties
11:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleInter Milan vs Feyenoord
Champions League draw - Round of 16 ties
11:17 , Harry Latham-CoyleArsenal vs PSV
Champions League draw - Round of 16 ties
11:17 , Harry Latham-CoyleBayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen
Champions League draw - Round of 16 ties
11:16 , Harry Latham-CoyleAtletico Madrid vs Real Madrid
Champions League draw - Round of 16 ties
11:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleBorussia Dortmund vs Lille
Champions League draw - Round of 16 ties
11:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleAston Villa vs Club Brugge
Champions League draw
11:14 , Harry Latham-CoyleHere we go...
Champions League draw
11:08 , Harry Latham-CoyleRight, time to find out who will be doing the drawing. It’s...former Bayern Munich striker and 2001 Champions League winner Giovane Elber.
Champions League draw
11:06 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe host throws us into a neat video package recapping the teams qualified and a few of the highlights of the league phase - welcome, given the bloated nature of the preliminary round of this competition.
Here’s our first Uefa suit, Giorgio Marchetti, to hype up the assembled club personnel in front of him.
Champions League draw
11:02 , Harry Latham-CoyleToday’s draw is not quite as grand as past proceedings, the main stage at Uefa HQ swapped for a smaller, lecture theatre-type facility.
Champions League draw
11:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleRight, the draw is imminent in Nyon, the fastest city in Switzerland. It may not, perhaps, be laden with the intrigue of a fully open process, but we’ve eight ties to be confirmed - let’s get going.
Champions League draw
10:53 , Harry Latham-CoyleThere could well be a reunion with Arsenal for Robin van Persie - the former striker is seemingly close to being appointed as manager of Feyenoord having done impressive work with Heerenveen, and could yet face a date with his old club.
Champions League draw
10:47 , Harry Latham-CoyleHow beneficial will the break afforded by making the top eight prove to be for those who earned direct progression to this stage? Liverpool may have ended up playing in the last two midweeks but the schedule eases a little for Arne Slot’s side from here, which could be key to continuing to fight on a few fronts.
Who are the favourites for the Champions League?
10:30 , Chris WilsonPerhaps surprisingly, Real Madrid are the current bookies’ favourites to win the Champions League after their results against City.
The current holders can never be ruled out of this competition, having won it 15 times, with Kylian Mbappe perhaps signalling a return to his lofty heights with that second-leg hattrick.
Nevertheless, Liverpool were the previous favourites and eased to a 2-0 win over Madrid at Anfield a few months ago. The Reds are currently the second favourites, having qualified with six wins from six.
Barcelona are the third-favourites, with the Blaugrana another side who recently inflicted a damaging defeat to Madrid. However, that 5-2 win seems to have little bearing on whatever algorithm is used!
Arsenal are fourth in the favourites line, followed by Bayern Munich and then PSG.
Kylian Mbappe hat-trick adds another chapter to Man City-Real Madrid rivalry
10:25 , Chris WilsonManchester City were dumped out of the Champions League as Kylian Mbappe scored a sensational hat-trick to give Real Madrid a dominant 3-1 win at the Bernabeu.
The knockout phase play-off second leg was the latest memorable match between the pair in Europe’s top competition.
Here, the PA news agency looks at five other times the fixture served up a classic.
Kylian Mbappe hat-trick adds another chapter to Man City-Real Madrid rivalry
What are the Champions League knockout matchdays?
10:15 , Chris WilsonRound of 16: 4/5 & 11/12 March 2025
Quarter-finals: 8/9 & 15/16 April 2025
Semi-finals: 29/30 April & 6/7 May 2025
Final: 31 May 2025 (Allianz Arena, Munich)
Who could Arsenal face in the last-16?
10:05 , Chris WilsonAfter Feyenoord eliminated Milan and PSV beat Juventus, the Gunners now know that they will face one of the two Dutch sides in the next round.
Who Aston Villa could face in Champions League last-16
10:00 , Chris WilsonAston Villa will play either Borussia Dortmund or Club Brugge in the last-16.
Brugge dumped out Europa League winners and dark horses Atalanta in the shock of the play-off rounds, while Dortmund were 3-0 up over Sporting and required a goalless draw against the Portuguese side to advance.
Who Liverpool could face in the last-16
09:55 , Chris WilsonLiverpool will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica in the round of 16.
The Parisians trashed Brest 10-0 on aggregate in an all-French clash, while Benfica won a thrilling tie against Monaco to advance.
Celtic suffer heartbreaking Champions League exit as Bayern sneak into last-16
09:50 , Chris WilsonCeltic suffered the cruellest of Champions League exits after Alphonso Davies scrambled an equaliser for Bayern Munich in the final minute of stoppage time in the Allianz Arena.
The Scottish champions looked set to take the play-off into extra time after Nicolas Kuhn put them ahead in the second half from the latest in a series of good chances they created.
Bayern belatedly exerted some sustained pressure and it paid off deep into four minutes added on.
Kasper Schmeichel made a good stop from Leon Goretzka's header but Davies scrambled home from close range as he tackled Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Celtic suffer heartbreaking Champions League exit as Bayern sneak into last-16
Manchester City’s predictable Champions League humbling leaves Pep Guardiola with sobering realisation
09:40 , Chris WilsonThe stuff of boyhood dreams for Kylian Mbappe but the continuation of Manchester City’s altogether newer nightmare and the confirmation of how far and how fast they have fallen. For Mbappe, his first great European evening at the Bernabeu yielded a hat-trick for the club he supported as a child. But, two years after winning the Champions League, City are out of it while Club Brugge remain in it. It has been a shocking fall from grace. And yet there was nothing surprising about elimination to Real Madrid: not to anyone who has watched their season. A 13th defeat in 26 games, a fourth in their last four away in Europe, was inevitable from the moment Mbappe lobbed Real ahead.
For Pep Guardiola, there was no remontada, no comeback for the ages, nothing to rescue City’s worst season in the Champions League for a dozen years or his poorest as a manager. There was just a defeat that was as comprehensive as it was predictable. City have had hard-luck stories in many of their Champions League exits. This wasn’t one of them. They were outclassed, the match stripped of its tension from the start.
Man City’s Champions League humbling leaves Pep Guardiola with sobering realisation
When is the draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals?
09:30 , Chris WilsonFrom the knockout play-offs onwards the tournament is a bracket, so potential opponents in the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals were also pre-determined by pairings that were set according to league positions.
Once again, the bracket was set after the end of the league phase, so teams already know potential opponents.
The last-16 draw will lay out this bracket in full on Friday, with a further draw on the day to determine the order of the matches (i.e. who plays at home in each leg).
How the Champions League last-16 draw will pan out
09:20 , Chris WilsonBased on the seedings, the draw will determine the following ties:
PSG - to play Liverpool or Barcelona
Benfica - to play Liverpool or Barcelona
PSV - to play Arsenal or Inter
Feyenoord - to play Arsenal or Inter
Real Madrid - to play Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen
Bayern Munich - to play Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen
Club Brugge - to play Lille or Aston Villa
Borussia Dortmund - to play Lille or Aston Villa
Paris Saint-Germain sweep past Brest as Juventus crash out of Champions League
09:10 , Chris WilsonA round-up of the action from Wednesday...
Paris Saint-Germain hammered Brest 7-0 at the Parc des Princes to cruise into the last 16 with a 10-0 aggregate victory.
Seven different players were on the scoresheet as PSG recorded their biggest win in European competition in advancing to meet either Liverpool or Barcelona, the top two clubs from the league phase.
And Ryan Flamingo scored an extra-time winner for PSV Eindhoven as they dumped out Juventus with a spectacular 3-1 second-leg win to go through 4-3 on aggregate.
Paris Saint-Germain sweep past Brest as Juventus crash out of Champions League
Which teams have qualified for the Champions League last 16?
09:00 , Chris WilsonThe teams who finished in the top eight of the competition's new league phase table automatically qualified for the last 16.
Uefa paired off every team based on their first-phase league position into a predetermined bracket, which will affect who they can face in the round of 16.
According to the new rules, the seeded sides will all play the second legs of their ties at home.
Seeded:
- Liverpool
- Barcelona
- Arsenal
- Inter Milan
- Atletico Madrid
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Lille
- Aston Villa
Unseeded:
- Bayern Munich
- Feyenoord
- Benfica
- Club Brugge
- Real Madrid
- Borussia Dortmund
- PSG
- PSV
When is the draw for the Champions League last 16?
08:50 , Chris WilsonThe draw for the next rounds of the Champions League takes place at 11am GMT on Friday, 21 February at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
How can I watch the Champions League draw?
The draw will be streamed live on Uefa’s website and, in the UK, on TNT Sports.
Champions League draw LIVE
08:40 , Chris WilsonThe draw for the last 16 of the Champions League will take place at Uefa headquarters this Friday, after the conclusion of eight intriguing play-off ties in midweek.
Real Madrid comfortably swept Manchester City aside as Kylian Mbappe scored a stunning hat-trick at the Bernabeu, while Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Brest in an all-French clash to go through with a 10-0 aggregate scoreline.
Celtic suffered heartbreak with a after a tragic last-second goal conceded at Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, the Germans joining Feyenoord, Club Brugge and Benfica in booking their spot in this Champions Leaguedraw via the play-offs.
Friday’s draw will see Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa and the rest of the top eight sides learn their potential routes to the final, as the business end of the competition begins in earnest in March.
Champions League draw LIVE
08:30 , Chris WilsonGood morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s Champions League draw.
The ceremony takes place at Uefa HQ in Nyon, and will show clubs and fans their potential route to May’s final in Munich.
But first, each side will find out their opponents for the round of 16, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa eagerly waiting to learn who they’ll face.
We’ll have all the latest build-up and updates right here.
Champions League last-16 draw
Thursday 20 February 2025 17:48 , Jack RathbornWelcome to the Independent’s coverage of the Champions League last-16 draw after a dramatic play-off round.
Man City’s emphatic defeat to an inspired Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid stole the headlines as the innovative new format gathers pace.
While there was heartbreak for Celtic after Bayern Munich’s stoppage-time strike denied them a shot of extra-time.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa have been patiently waiting to discover their next opponents and we’ll confirm the ties for the last 16 and the path for each club to reach the final in Munich this May. Follow for the latest updates and build-up as the draw unfolds in Nyon, Switzerland.
