Following the recent UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw, several exciting matchups have been established, including notable rematches from past tournaments. Here’s an overview of the upcoming fixtures and the last time each pair faced off in the Champions League:
Real Madrid vs. Atlético Madrid
The Madrid derby returns to the Champions League stage. These city rivals last met in the 2016/17 semi-finals, where Real Madrid advanced with a 4-2 aggregate victory.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) vs. Liverpool
PSG and Liverpool will clash once more, having last met in the 2018/19 group stage. In that encounter, each team secured a home win: Liverpool triumphed 3-2 at Anfield, while PSG won 2-1 at Parc des Princes.
Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa
This fixture marks the first-ever meeting between Club Brugge and Aston Villa in UEFA club competition, setting the stage for a fresh European contest.
PSV Eindhoven vs. Arsenal
PSV and Arsenal are set to face each other again, continuing their recent European encounters. They met in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage, with each team winning at home: Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium, and PSV won 2-0 at Philips Stadion.
Benfica vs. Barcelona
Benfica and Barcelona renew their rivalry, having last met in the 2021/22 group stage. The matches concluded with a 3-0 home win for Benfica and a goalless draw at Camp Nou.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Lille
Borussia Dortmund and Lille will face off for the first time in the Champions League, introducing a new matchup to the competition.
Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen
An all-German affair, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen last met in the Champions League during the 2001/02 season. They faced off in the quarter-finals, with Leverkusen advancing on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate draw.
Feyenoord vs. Inter Milan
Feyenoord and Inter Milan will meet again, having last faced each other in the 2002/03 UEFA Cup semi-finals. Feyenoord advanced with a 3-2 aggregate victory and went on to win the tournament.
The first legs of these round of 16 matches are scheduled for March 5 and 6, 2025, with the return legs on March 11 and 12, 2025.
In the quarter-final pairings, the winner of PSG vs. Liverpool will face the winner of Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa. The victor between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid will meet the winner of PSV vs. Arsenal. The winner of Benfica vs. Barcelona will play against the winner of Borussia Dortmund vs. Lille. Finally, the team that emerges victorious between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen will face the winner of Feyenoord vs. Inter Milan.
This season’s UEFA Champions League final is slated for May 31, 2025, at the Munich Football Arena (Allianz Arena), the home ground of Bayern Munich.
Additionally, the Europa League last-16 draw will take place at 12:00 GMT on Friday, following the Champions League draw. Shortly after, the UEFA Conference League last-16 draw is scheduled for 13:00 GMT on the same day.
These fixtures promise thrilling encounters as teams vie for European glory.
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Story by Annang Samuel Yartey Kafui
