The Champions League round of 16 draw for the 2021/22 campaign has been concluded.
While there has already been plenty of drama in Europe’s premier competition this season, football fans are acutely aware that the knockout stages is where the tournament really cranks into gear.
With half of the qualified teams either jettisoned from continent football or sent crashing down to the Europa League, only the top contenders are left to slug it out for a chance to life ‘Big Ears’ in May.
How the pots lined up
The group winners lined up as: Manchester City, Liverpool, Ajax, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Lille and Juventus.
Meanwhile, the runners up stacked up as: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP, Inter Milan, Benfica, Villarreal, Red Bull Salzburg and Chelsea.
And that tantalising cocktail of continental juggernauts didn’t disappoint when it was shaken and stirred into the mix during UEFA’s ceremony at their headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Full fixtures revealed
So, how were the creme de la creme of the Champions League pitted up against each other ahead of the competition’s resumption in 2022? Well, be sure to take a look at the full draw down below:
Benfica vs Real Madrid
Villarreal vs Manchester City
Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Munich
Red Bull Salzburg vs Liverpool
Inter Milan vs Ajax
Sporting CP vs Juventus
Chelsea vs Lille
Manchester United vs Paris Saint-Germain