When is the UEFA Champions League last-16 draw? How to watch in the UK? Who could Liverpool, Arsenal & Real Madrid draw?
Updated 21/02/2025 at 10:21 GMT
The inaugural Champions League play-off stage was concluded in January, with it making way for the last 16 of the competition. The likes of Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich battled it out to reach the last 16. They will join Arsenal, Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Liverpool in the next round, and will learn their fate in Friday's draw.
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The inaugural UEFA Champions League knockout play-off stage was concluded in January, with the last 16 of the competition looming into view.
A spate of European giants battled it out for a place in the last 16, including Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, holders Real Madrid and Serie A giants Juventus.
City were knocked out as Kylian Mbappe scored a brilliant hat-trick at the Bernabeu, while Juventus were knocked out by PSV Eindhoven in extra time.
Those that were victorious will join Arsenal, Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Internazionale, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Liverpool in the next round.
So, when is the last-16 draw? How does the draw work? And how can you watch it in the UK?
When is the Champions League last-16 draw?
The draw for the UEFA Champions League last 16 takes place on Friday, February 21, at 11:00am UK time.
It will be held at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
How to watch the Champions League last-16 draw
The Champions League last-16 draw will be live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
It will also be streamed live on TNT Sports' YouTube channel.
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Who is in the Champions League last-16 draw?
Arsenal, Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Internazionale, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Liverpool all qualified automatically for the last 16 upon finishing in the top eight of the competition's inaugural league phase.
They are joined by the eight winners of the two-legged knockout play-off phase, contested between the 16 teams that finished in positions nine to 24 of the league phase.
Those matches took place on the 18-19 February, and Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, PSV Eindhoven, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Feyenoord, Bayern Munich and Club Brugge all qualified.
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Champions League bracket format explained
The league phase’s final placing created the knockout bracket and a new ‘seeding’ system.
This means the highest-placed teams in the league cannot face each other until the tournament’s latter stages.
For example, Liverpool and Barcelona, who finished first and second in the league respectively, cannot play each other until the final. Meanwhile, third-placed Arsenal and fourth-placed Internazionale similarly cannot play Liverpool or Barcelona until the semi-final stage.
The value of being seeded high in the table has been complicated by European giants, such as Real, City and PSG, performing below expectations in the league phase.
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Moreover, the teams in the knockout play-off round were already set in their half of the bracket.
In turn, Real Madrid cannot play Bayern Munich as they are in opposite halves of the draw.
However, both Real Madrid and City knew that Juventus and PSV were in the same path in the bracket, and that the teams could potentially meet at the quarter-final stage.
There is no draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals, with the knockout bracket being set through to the final following the last-16 draw.
Who could Arsenal, Aston Villa and Liverpool face in the last 16?
Following City's elimination from the tournament, there are only three English teams left standing.
Liverpool finished top of the league phase and are one of the favourites to win this season's competition.
However, they will face a tough test in the last 16, with either French giants PSG or Champions League stalwarts Benfica to come in the next round.
Arsenal are guaranteed a Dutch opponent when they get their knock-out stage campaign underway.
They are set to face either Feyenoord or PSV after they dumped Serie A giants AC Milan and Juventus out of the competition respectively.
Aston Villa can also expect stiff competition in their bid to reach the quarter-finals.
They will face either Belgian side Club Brugge, who beat last season's UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta in the play-offs, or German giants Borussia Dortmund, who were last year's losing finalists.
Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and much more live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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