THE CHAMPIONS BLOG: ROUND OF 16 DRAW SPECIAL

We have some exciting matches in store for us in this season's Champions League Round of 16. Some of the matches we have in store will be absolute blockbusters for the final 16 teams that we have left in the Champions League. Welcome to a special edition of the Champions Blog. We will give a guide to all the matches and when they will be played

Game 1: Porto vs Arsenal

The first game of the Round of 16 will be contested between Porto of Portugal and Arsenal of England. The Gunners are aiming for their first place in the quarter finals since 2010 after making a successful return to the competition so far. Porto can qualify successfully qualify for the last 8 for the first time in 3 years of they were to defeat the London side. The last time these two sides met in the competition was at the same phase with Arsenal being victorious 6-2 on aggregate.

Leg Locations:

Leg 1: 21st February 2024 (Estadio do Dragao, Porto)

Leg 2: 12th March 2024 (Emirates Stadium, London)

Last Encounter in Competition:

2009/10 Round of 16: Arsenal 6-2 Porto (on aggregate)

Match 2: Napoli vs Barcelona 

This is the third time that Napoli and Barcelona have faced each other in Europe within the last 5 seasons. Napoli can equal their Champions League personal best if they were to get the better of Barcelona and make the quarter finals of the competition for a second successive season. Barcelona can qualify for the quarter finals for the first time since 2020 in which they also beat Napoli in the Round of 16, in which was their last Champions League encounter in which the Catalans were victorious 4-2 on aggregate.

Leg Locations:

Leg 1: 21st February 2024 (Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, Naples)

Leg 2: 12th March 2024 (Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona)

Last Encounter in Competition:

2019/20 Round of 16: Barcelona 4-2 Napoli (on aggregate)

Match 3: Paris Saint Germain vs Real Sociedad

This is the first ever encounter in a European competition between PSG and Real Sociedad. PSG made the last 16 for the 11th successive season while Real Sociedad are making their first Round of 16 appearance since 2004. PSG are the favorites to go to the quarter finals for the first time since 2021 but as we all know, anything can happen in the Champions League. The last time Real Sociedad made the quarter finals of the European Cup was back in 1983, in which they made the semi finals before losing to eventual winners, Hamburger SV. 

Leg Locations:

Leg 1: 14th February 2024 (Parc de Princes, Paris)

Leg 2: 5th March 2024 (Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastian)

Last Encounter in Competition:

First Ever Meeting

Match 4: Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid

This is the first ever meeting between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in a European competition since the 2010 UEFA Super Cup final in which Atletico were victorious 2-0. In the Champions League, this will their first ever encounter. Inter Milan if victorious can qualify for consecutive quarter finals for the first time since 2011, while if Atletico are victorious, they would make the last 8 for the first time in 2 years, in which they lost 1-0 on aggregate to current champions, Manchester City.

Leg Locations:

Leg 1: 20th February 2024 (San Siro, Milan)

Leg 2: 13th March 2024 (Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid)

Last Encounter in Competition:

First Ever Meeting

Match 5: PSV vs Borussia Dortmund 

This is the first time that PSV and Dortmund have played against each other in the Champions League since the 2002-03 group stage in which there was a 1-1 draw in Dortmund, Germany. PSV have not made a single quarter final appearance since 2007, in which they lost 4-0 on aggregate to eventual finalists, Liverpool. Dortmund's last appearance in a quarter finals was 2021, in which they also lost to finalists, 4-2 on aggregate to Manchester City. 

Leg Locations:

Leg 1: 20th February 2024 (Phillips Stadion, Eindhoven)

Leg 2: 13th March 2024 (Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund)

Last Encounter in Competition:

2002/03 Group Stage: Dortmund 1-1 PSV

Match 6: Lazio vs Bayern Munich

This is the second time that both Lazio and Bayern Munich will meet in the last 16, with the first being back in the 2020/21, in which Bayern won 6-2 on aggregate, and were the reigning champions of Europe. Lazio's best ever finish in the Champions League was the 1999-2000 season, in which they made the quarter finals, and they can equal their best ever finish of they were to get the better of Bayern. The German side, who recently extended their record in the group stage, can make their 5th quarter final appearance in a row. The Bavarians last Round of 16 elimination, was the 2018-19 season, losing 3-1 on aggregate to eventual winners, Liverpool. 

Leg Locations:

Leg 1: 14th February 2024 (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)

Leg 2: 5th March 2024 (Allianz Arena, Munich)

Last Encounter in Competition:

2020/21 Round of 16: Bayern Munich 6-2 Lazio (on aggregate)

Match 7: Copenhagen vs Manchester City

Copenhagen have made the last 16 for the first time since 2011, in which they lost 2-0 on aggregate to Chelsea. The reigning champions have made it past the group stage for the 10th successive season, and have only progressed to the quarter finals 7 of those times. City's last Round of 16 encounter was against RB Leipzig in which they thumped the Germans 8-1 on aggregate. Man City and Copenhagen have previously met in last season's group stage, with the English side, winning 5-0 in Manchester before drawing 0-0 in Copenhagen. 

Leg Locations:

Leg 1: 13th February 2024 (Parken Stadium, Copenhagen)

Leg 2: 4th March 2024 (Etihad Arena, Manchester)

Last Encounter in Competition:

2022/23 Group Stage: Copenhagen 0-0 Manchester City

Match 8: RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid 

This is the second time that Leipzig and Real Madrid have met within the last 2 seasons. The two sides met in last seasons group stage, with Real winning 2-0 in Madrid and Leipzig winning 3-2 in Germany. Leipzig's last time they made it past the Round of 16 was back in 2020 when they defeated Tottenham Hotspurs 4-0 on aggregate en route to make the semi finals before losing 3-0 to PSG. Real's last Round of 16 encounter came last season against Liverpool in which they won 6-2 on aggregate and made the semi finals, before losing 5-1 on aggregate to current champions, Manchester City. 

Leg Locations:

Leg 1: 13th February 2024 (Red Bull Arena, Leipzig)

Leg 2: 4th March 2024 (Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid)

Last Encounter in Competition:

2022/23 Group Stage: RB Leipzig 3-2 Real Madrid

The Round of 16 has some very exciting matches in place and some matches that you don't want to miss. The Champions Blog will return in February 2024 as we dive into the first legs of the Round of 16. Until then, be on the lookout for Champions League  winning teams, where are they now? See you then.