The Round-of-16 draw for the UEFA Champions League will take place on Monday, 14th December at 12:00 CET (16:30 IST) at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The representatives of most powerful clubs in the world will collectively hold their breath in nervousness as Gianni Infantino decides their fate in the competition.
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The draw will take place from two pots, one with group winners and another with runners up. A team cannot face a team from the same nation, nor a team it faced in the group stage. In addition, the UEFA Executive Committe have decided that teams from Russia and Ukraine will not face eath other, due to the sensistive political situation between the two regions.
Group winners have an added advantage as they play the second leg at home.
Group A:
Winners: Real Madrid – The Spanish side were propelled to top spot in their group by a record breaking haul of 11 goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, the most in a group stage. They have potentially dicey trips to Italy and England to be wary off, hoping to avoid Juventus, Roma & Arsenal. Madrid can also draw PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv & Gent.
Runners Up: Paris Saint-Germain – The French champions finished a creditable 2nd to Real Madrid, but will be disappointed as they have to face formidable teams in the Round-of-16. The Parisians will most likely be part of mouth-watering draws against Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester City or Atletico Madrid. Zenit St. Petersburg & Wolfsburg are the only relatively ‘safe’ draws that PSG can get.
Group B:
Winners: VFL Wolfsburg – Last season’s Bundesliga runners up were surprise winners in a group containing Manchester United, but rallied to qualify in 1st place. This marks their debut in the knockout stage of the UEFA CL, where the Germans will hope to avoid daunting trips to PSG, Juventus, Roma & Arsenal. The Germans will hope to be drawn against Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv, Gent to have a better chance at proceeding to the quarterfinals for the first time.
Runners Up: PSV Eindhoven – PSV pipped Manchester United to qualify for the knockout stage, the farthest a Dutch side has come since they last made it to the quarterfinals in 2006/07. The Dutch champions have potentially very intimidating trips to Real Madrid, Atlético, Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern or Chelsea to contend with. Zenit are possibly the only team that PSV would want, but odds of 1/7 aren’t the best.
Group C:
Winners: Atletico Madrid – The Spaniards were expected to finish top of their group and duly obliged, completing the feat for the third time in a row. Their reward is to potentially face PSG, Juventus, Roma & Arsenal. Atletico will hope for a relatively easier draw against PSV, Dynamo Kyiv & Gent.
Runners Up: Benfica – The Portuguese champions are more synonymous with the Europa League, having only qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League twice in 8 attempts. Bela Guttman’s curse may not be limited to European finals, as Benfica can face Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern, Chelsea & Zenit, all of whom are sides that could dump the Reds out of the competition.
Group D:
Winners: Manchester City – City’s miserable European form has not continued into this season, the Premier League title contenders finishing top of their Champions League group for the first time in their history. The Sky Blues will only fear PSG out of the teams they can face. They will consider PSV, Benfica, Roma, Dynamo Kyiv & Gent as teams they ought to beat to progress.
Runners Up: Juventus – The Bianconeri only finished a point behind Manchester City and could potentially rue finishing second, as they could now face Real Madrid, Atlético, Barcelona, Bayern or Chelsea. Juventus are can take positives from the fact that they’re unbeaten in 16 European games, a run that can continue if they draw Wolfsburg or Zenit.
Group E:
Winners: FC Barcelona – The defending champions need not fear anyone, except maybe PSV, whose defender Joshua Brenet wants to eat their front trio alive. Paris, Juventus & Arsenal could concern the Blaugrana, however they should be able to comfortably beat Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv & Gent.
Runners Up: AS Roma – The Giallorossi qualified with only 6 points, tieing the record for the lowest points total to qualify. Having conceded 16 goals in the group stages, Roma have reason to worry – Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, Atlético, Manchester City, Bayern, Chelsea and even Zenit represent sides that could resonably defeat the Italians over two legs.
Group F:
Winners: Bayern Munich – The Bundesliga champions qualified with comfort from their group, a 2-0 reverse against Arsenal being their only blip. ‘FC Hollywood’ have to be cautious as they could face PSG & Juventus in the Round-of-16. Bayern should be confident of progressing if they draw any of PSV, Benfica, Roma, Dynamo Kyiv, or Gent
Runners Up: Arsenal – The Gunners miraculously qualified for the knockout stages, defeating Olympiakos 3-0 in Greece to progress. The Gunners could potentially face mouth-watering trips to Spain, possibly drawing any of Real Madrid, Atlético & Barcelona. Wolfsburg & Zenit are sides that Arsenal will hope they get drawn against, however given their debacle against Monaco last season, Arsenal should be concerned anyway.
Group G:
Winners: Chelsea – The embattled London club are taking succour from their European form, topping their group with 13 points, just 2 short of their league return. The Blues went out to PSG last year and could be drawn against them again, while also be hping to avoid trips to Italy to face Juventus & Roma. Chelsea will hope to draw one of PSV, Benfica or Gent to maximize their chances of progressing.
Runners Up: Dynamo Kyiv – The Ukranian champions have made it to the group stages after a run of 10 consecutive seasons without qualifying. They cannot face Group H winners Zenit St. Petersburg, on account of security concerns regarding staging that game. Instead Dynamo could face European giants Real Madrid, Barcelona & Bayern. Wolfsburg, Atlético and Manchester City aren’t easier trips, so Kyiv should hope for a miracle to qualify over two legs.
Group H:
Winners: Zenit St. Petersburg – The Russians were in sparkling form in the group stage, winning all their games except for the last against runners up Gent. Manager Andre Vilas-Boas can face former rivals Benfica. The Russians will hope that long trips to Russia will affect PSG, Juventus, Roma & Arsenal to aid Zenit in their progress. PSV Eindhoven are the only side that Zenit can realistically beat on paper over two legs.
Runners Up: KAA Gent – The Belgian champions had a fairytale group stage, defeating Zenit in the final group game to qualify for the knockout stage for the first time in their history. Gent have to potential to experience dream European nights against Real Madrid, Atlético, Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern & Chelsea. Wolfsburg‘s Volskwagen Arena may not have the same European allure as Gent’s other potential opponents, but represent the Belgian side’s best chance to qualify.
The draw will be streamed live on uefa.com
