In the recent draw for the Champions League round of 16, Liverpool is set to face Paris Saint-Germain, both leaders in their respective leagues. This encounter marks their first knockout clash in the Champions League, following previous group stage meetings where each side claimed a home victory during the 2018-19 season.
The defending champions, Real Madrid, will take on local rivals Atletico Madrid, continuing their storied history of intense competition, having triumphed over Atletico in the finals in both 2014 and 2016. In an all-German clash, Bayern Munich will go head-to-head with Bayer Leverkusen. Notably, Leverkusen’s coach, Xabi Alonso, has remained unbeaten against Bayern in their last six contests.
This year’s new seeded bracket format allows intra-country fixtures that were previously not permitted. The complete lineup includes encounters such as Aston Villa vs Club Brugge, Borussia Dortmund vs Lille, and Barcelona vs Benfica.
In the Europa League, Tottenham Hotspur will battle AZ Alkmaar, while Manchester United faces Real Sociedad. The first legs of the Champions League matches are scheduled for March 5-6, with the Europa League taking place on March 7.