Paris Saint-Germain must win the Champions League the hard way after being paired with Real Madrid in the redrawn round of 16 on Monday, following a software error that led to the initial draw — which had PSG facing Manchester United — being declared void by UEFA.
PSG, still attempting to win the Champions League for the first time, will face 13-time winners Real over two legs next February and March in the tie of the round. And although the second draw saw them avoid a clash with Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG and a Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo head-to-head, United fared little better in the redraw, landing Spanish champions Atletico Madrid for the first meeting between the two clubs in the competition.
But while PSG vs. Real and Atletico vs. Man United stand out as the most eye-catching ties of the round of 16, Liverpool‘s encounter with Inter Milan is a much tougher task for Jurgen Klopp’s team than their initial pairing with FC Salzburg.
With the controversy of the voided draw now resolved by the second draw, the leading contenders to win this season’s Champions League can now start to plot their route to the final in Saint Petersburg on May 28. Much can change between now and February, when the Champions League resumes, but with the round of 16 fixtures now on the schedule, which clubs will make it through to the quarterfinals?
There was never going to be an easy option for Austrian champions Salzburg, but having been spared a tie against Liverpool because of the voided first draw, they ended up with Bayern Munich.
Making their first appearance in the round of 16 after finishing as runners-up in Group G, Salzburg will be huge underdogs against the Bundesliga champions, who cruised into the knockout stages with six wins out of six in their group. Karim Adeyemi, a 19-year-old Munich-born forward, has scored four goals so far in this season’s competition for Salzburg and will be out to impress against his hometown club. U.S. international midfielder Brenden Aaronson is another key figure for Salzburg, having played in every UCL game this season.
Reaching this stage is the big achievement for Salzburg, and it would be the biggest upset of the competition — bigger even than Sheriff Tiraspol‘s group-stage win at Real Madrid — if they eliminate Bayern. Julian Nagelsmann’s team were the favourites to win the Champions League before the draw was made, but they will be even stronger favourites now.
WHO GOES THROUGH? Bayern Munich
Sporting qualified for the round of 16 by denying Borussia Dortmund the runners-up spot behind Ajax in Group C, with a 3-1 home win against the Bundesliga team proving crucial. Ruben Amorim’s team have exceeded expectations by reaching this stage, however, and they are likely to be beaten comprehensively by City, who will ruthlessly exploit the Portuguese champions’ defensive weaknesses.
Sporting conceded nine goals in two games against Ajax, and City have far greater firepower than the Dutch champions. Midfielder Pedro Goncalves, with four goals in four UCL games, will be a threat for Sporting, as will centre-forward Paulinho, but this is a tie that will suit City, and it’s difficult to foresee any problems for Pep Guardiola’s team.
The only potential downside for City is that it will be a return to Estadio Jose Alvalade, where they suffered a surprise quarterfinal exit against Lyon during the COVID-19-affected final stages in 2020. Beyond a possible unlucky omen, there is nothing for City to worry about.
WHO GOES THROUGH? Manchester City
By Mark Ogden/Senior Writer, ESPN FC
