Liverpool will be out for revenge when they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16 in a repeat of last season’s final.
The Reds were denied the chance to win a seventh European
crown when Vinicius Jr’s strike gave Los Blancos the trophy back in May – and
now they will face off again as the draw for the 2022/23 knockout stage was
made on Monday.
Liverpool and Real Madrid will meet in the Champions League
last 16 in a mouthwatering repeat of last season’s final.
Tottenham face a tough task against Serie A champions AC
Milan, while Chelsea’s clash with Borussia Dortmund is another eye-catching
affair.
Premier League winners Manchester City meet RB Leipzig, who
won their final four group games to book their spot in last 16, while the
standout draw not including an English side is undoubtedly the one pairing
Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain together.
In-form Napoli has been drawn against Eintracht Frankfurt
and Inter Milan to battle with Porto.
The final game sees unfancied Club Brugge play Benfica, with
the ties to be played across February and early March.
Reds’ Madrid curse
In recent years, it is always games against teams from
Madrid that seem to end Liverpool’s European dreams.
Last season, Jurgen Klopp’s men lost the final to Real 1-0,
while the year before they were knocked out 3-1 on aggregate in the
quarter-finals by Los Blancos.
In 2018-19, it was Atletico Madrid’s turn to get the better
of the men from Merseyside, winning 4-2 on aggregate in the last 16, including
a famous 3-2 victory at Anfield.
There was brief respite from their Madrid curse when they
lifted the trophy by beating Tottenham in May 2018, 12 months after Real had
got the better of them in the showpiece final in Kiev.
Tasty ties
Chelsea’s meeting with Dortmund will see the likes of
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Christian Pulisic face their former clubs, as
well as pitting wonderkid Jude Bellingham up against an English side again.
PSG’s run of difficult last 16 ties continues against
Bundesliga giants Bayern. With both sides top of their respective leagues
again, Champions League success is the only thing that will turn good seasons
into great ones.
Antonio Conte returns to Italy when Tottenham play against
AC Milan, with some of Europe’s biggest clubs now destined to fall early.
Napoli’s kind draw sees them remain genuine contenders,
while underdogs Club Brugge and Benfica will surely both be thrilled to face
each other.
The draw
RB Leipzig vs Manchester City
Club Brugge vs Benfica
Liverpool vs Real Madrid
AC Milan vs Tottenham
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Napoli
Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea
Inter Milan vs Porto
PSG vs Bayern Munich
When is the Champions League last 16 played?
The ties will not take place until after the World Cup in
February.
The first legs are pencilled in for February 14, 15, 21 and
22, with the second legs on March 7, 8, 14 and 15.