UEFA Champions League 2019-20: Ranking the fixtures from the Round of 16 draw

#3 Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool

If Liverpool are to retain their Champions League title, they must overcome Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid

Current Champions League holders Liverpool have been handed a tricky tie against Spain’s Atletico Madrid, and Jurgen Klopp’s men will undoubtedly have to fight tooth and nail if they want to make it past Diego Simeone’s side and into the quarter-finals.

Under El Cholo, Atletico have made it to the final of two Champions Leagues – the 2013-14 and 2015-16 editions – and while they came up short both times, they’re still a formidable opponent for anyone to face. While their form hasn’t been tremendous thus far in 2019-20, Simeone knows how to make his side hard to beat; they boast the tightest defence in La Liga with just 10 goals conceded thus far.

If anyone can score goals, though, it’s the Reds. Liverpool boast one of the most fearsome front lines in world football in the trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, and despite some wobbles this season, they’ve still only lost a single game – their opening group stage match in the Champions League against Napoli.

To win this one, Atletico will need to frustrate Liverpool and then catch them off guard with the creative talents of Joao Felix and Thomas Lemar. More than any other tie in the Round of 16, this one represents the old adage of the irresistible force against the immovable object, so we can definitely expect a lot of intrigue.