Sports
Champions League Knockout Stage Takes Shape: Who Will Face Who in the Round of 16?
- Champions League Draw Set – Round of 16 matchups to be decided on February 21 in Nyon.
- Play-off Drama – PSG, Real Madrid, and Bayern among teams advancing after intense clashes.
- Key Performers – Mbappé’s hat-trick and PSV’s extra-time heroics highlight knockout phase.
The UEFA Champions League is set for an electrifying Round of 16, with the highly anticipated draw scheduled for Friday, February 21, 2025, at 12:00 CET in Nyon, Switzerland.
This draw will determine the matchups between the top eight teams from the league phase and the eight winners from the knockout phase play-offs, setting the stage for thrilling encounters in the race for European glory.
Knockout Phase Play-offs Recap
The knockout phase play-offs delivered high-intensity action as teams battled for a spot in the Round of 16. Here’s a breakdown of the results:
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Paris Saint-Germain vs. Brest
PSG dominated their fellow French side, securing a 10-0 aggregate victory, including a 3-0 away win in the first leg. -
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City
In a high-profile showdown, Real Madrid triumphed 6-3 on aggregate. Kylian Mbappé starred, netting a hat-trick in the 3-1 second-leg victory at the Santiago Bernabéu. -
PSV Eindhoven vs. Juventus
PSV overturned a first-leg deficit to claim a 4-3 aggregate win, with Ryan Flamingo scoring the decisive goal in extra time of a dramatic second leg. -
Feyenoord vs. AC Milan
Feyenoord stunned AC Milan with a 2-1 aggregate victory, securing a 1-0 home win before holding Milan to a 1-1 draw at San Siro. -
Bayern Munich vs. Celtic
Bayern faced a determined Celtic but advanced with a 3-2 aggregate win. Alphonso Davies’ late equalizer in the second leg proved crucial. -
Club Brugge vs. Atalanta
Club Brugge displayed their strength with a commanding 5-2 aggregate victory, winning both legs against Atalanta. -
Borussia Dortmund vs. Sporting CP
Dortmund eased into the next round with a 3-0 aggregate win, securing a convincing second-leg victory. -
Benfica vs. AS Monaco
In a nail-biting contest, Benfica edged past Monaco 4-3 on aggregate, following a dramatic 3-3 draw in the second leg.
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Teams Advancing to the Round of 16
The Round of 16 draw will pair each seeded team (top 8 from the league phase) with an unseeded team (knockout play-off winners), setting up must-watch clashes. Notably, teams from the same country can now face each other, adding intrigue to potential domestic rivalries.
Seeded Teams (Top 8 from League Phase):
- Liverpool (England)
- Barcelona (Spain)
- Arsenal (England)
- Inter Milan (Italy)
- Atlético Madrid (Spain)
- Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
- Lille (France)
- Aston Villa (England)
Unseeded Teams (Knockout Play-off Winners):
- Paris Saint-Germain (France)
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
- Feyenoord (Netherlands)
- Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Club Brugge (Belgium)
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
- Benfica (Portugal)
Key Dates & Final Venue
- First-leg matches: March 4-5, 2025
- Second-leg matches: March 11-12, 2025
- Final: May 31, 2025, at Allianz Arena, Munich
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