The draw for the knockout phase of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season was conducted in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday, with the next round of games providing some tasty matchups between Europe’s heavyweights.
Holders Real Madrid, who eliminated Manchester City on Wednesday, were drawn against city rivals Atletico in the round of 16 in another Madrid Derby in the Champions League.
Five-time winners Barcelona have been handed a rematch against Benfica. The Catalan giants won the most recent encounter between both sides—a nine-goal thriller at Estadio da Luz on matchday seven in the league phase.
Giant killers PSV Eindhoven, fresh off their 4-3 aggregate win over Italian powerhouse Juventus, face another daunting task against Premier League big boys Arsenal.
Paris Saint-Germain will have to navigate their way through red-hot Liverpool, who topped the 36-team league phase of the competition, suffering just one defeat in eight matches.
Six-time European champions Bayern Munich were drawn against rivals and reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen in an all-German affair.
Club Brugge will face Aston Villa; having knocked out AC Milan, Feyenoord were handed another Italian opponent in Inter Milan; and last season’s finalist Borussia Dortmund are up against French Ligue 1 side Lille.
The confirmed round of 16 draw ✅#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/zogc10nzdr
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 21, 2025
The Champions League round of 16 matches will take place next month, with the first leg set for 4-5 March and the second leg a week later.
The pairings for the quarter-finals were also done with the winners of the tie between PSV/Arsenal to face the winner of the Real Madrid/Atletico Madrid.
Meanwhile, the winner of the PSG/Liverpool match gets to play the winner of the tie between Club Brugge and Aston Villa.
The victor between Benfica/Barcelona will tackle the winner of the match between Dortmund/Lille, while the winner of the Bayern/Leverkusen tie will tackle whoever makes it out of the Feyenoord/Inter pairing.
The first leg of the quarter-finals will be played on 8 and 9 April, with the return fixtures set for the following week.
The road to Munich is set.#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/M2ChMOgR8u
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 21, 2025
Champions League round of 16 ties (4/5 & 11/12 March)
PSV vs Arsenal
Real Madrid vs Atleti
Paris vs Liverpool
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
Benfica vs Barcelona
Borussia Dortmund vs Lille
Bayern München vs Leverkusen
Feyenoord vs Inter
Champions League quarter-final ties (8/9 & 15/16 April)
PSV/Arsenal vs Real Madrid/Atleti
Paris/Liverpool vs Club Brugge/Aston Villa
Benfica/Barcelona vs Dortmund/Lille
Bayern/Leverkusen vs Feyenoord/Inter
Champions League semi-final ties (29/30 April & 6/7 May)
PSV/Arsenal/Real Madrid/Atleti vs Paris/Liverpool/Club Brugge/Aston Villa
Benfica/Barcelona/Dortmund/Lille vs Bayern/Leverkusen/Feyenoord/Inter
