Real Madrid will play against Manchester City, Atlético Madrid against Tottenham, and FC Barcelona will face Newcastle in the Champions League Round of 16, drawn today in Nyon, Switzerland. This round will take place between March 10-11 and March 17-18.
Mixed fortunes for the Spanish teams. While Real Madrid also had the possibility to face Sporting, Atlético had the option of Liverpool, and FC Barcelona with PSG. "We do not choose our opponents and respect the draw," assessed Deco, Barcelona's sporting director. "A top-level team, a Premier League top side," pointed out Mateu Alemany, Atlético's sporting director.
The draw has also determined the paths the teams will take in the top European competition. Real Madrid and Atlético were already defined and are in different brackets, so they could only meet in a hypothetical final. Barcelona fell on the side of Atlético, whom they could face in the quarter-finals.
Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid will play the second leg away from home after failing to secure their spots in the group stage, especially in the last matches. In fact, Real Madrid lost their chances after their defeat in Lisbon, which was avenged in this draw. FC Barcelona, on the other hand, improved throughout and managed to secure a spot in the top 8 on the final matchday, allowing them to play the second leg at Camp Nou.
It was a draw where the balls could go either way. It was not a do-or-die situation like in other rounds. There were substantial differences in the possibilities of facing one team or another, with a prevalence of British teams, in advancing to the quarter-finals of the top European competition. Ultimately, it will be a Premier League vs. LaLiga showdown in this round.
All Round of 16 Champions League matchups:
Atlético Madrid - Tottenham
On Thursday, Celta qualified for the Europa League Round of 16 after defeating PAOK for the second time, where Betis was already waiting after securing a spot among the top eight as the fourth-placed team. Celta will face Olympique de Lyon in this round, while Betis will play against Panathinaikos managed by Rafa Benítez.
While the possibilities for Giráldez's team were do-or-die as the other option was Unai Emery's Aston Villa, Pellegrini's team had more manageable opponents, with Nottingham Forest being the other possibility. Celta will play the second leg away, while Betis will play at La Cartuja.
Europa League Round of 16:
Freiburg - Genk
Rome - Bologna
Braga - Ferencvaros
Porto - Stuttgart
Betis - Pantinaikos
Midtjylland - Nottingham Forest
Olimpique de Lyon - Celta
Aston Villa - Lille