Liverpool handed nightmare draw as Arsenal and Aston Villa discover Champions League last-16 opponents
Liverpool have been pitted against Paris Saint-Germain in the worst possible Champions League last-16 draw for Arne Slot’s men. The Reds topped the league phase, but have been rewarded with a tough tie against a newly-rampant PSG side. Liverpool against PSG is one of the standout ties from the last-16 PSG eased through their knockout play-off against Ligue 1 rivals Brest – beating them 10-0 on aggregate. Luis Enrique’s men created Champions League history during their 7-0 second leg victory by becoming the first team to have seven different goalscorers in the same game. Meanwhile Arsenal have been drawn against PSV Eindhoven, who won the tournament in 1988. It is the third season in a row that that the two teams will have faced each other in Europe. The Gunners and the Dutch giants have pitted their wits against each other in the group stages of the Europa League and Champions League respectively. Arsenal won both fixtures at the Emirates, but drew and lost in their two away matches at the Philips Stadion. And Arsenal will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself after losing to PSV in the last-16 in 2007 – which is the last time the Eredivisie holders reached the quarter-finals. Elsewhere, Aston Villa‘s reward for finishing in the top eight of the league phase is a clash against Club Brugge. Should Unai Emery‘s men progress into the quarter-final, an all-English meeting with Liverpool will take place providing the Merseyside outfit prevail over PSG. Arsenal meanwhile could face one of Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in another potentially mouthwatering match-up. Arteta took Arsenal to the Champions League quarter-finals last seasonGetty Emery is looking to guide Villa to their first European Cup quarter-final since 1983Getty There are some huge knockout ties to look forward to in March And if Mikel Arteta‘s side manage to reach the last-four of Europe’s premier competition for the first time since 2009, they could face either Liverpool or Villa. In the other side of the draw, Barcelona and Bayern Munich know they have their work cut out to reach the final at the Allianz Arena. Barcelona will face Benfica, while Bayern will face their Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16. For Barca, if they emerge victorious, they will come up against either Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the quarter-finals. As for Bayern, they could come up against Inter Milan or Feyenoord. It means that Barca could face Bayern in the semi-finals – a repeat of their league phase meeting from October which saw the Spanish side ease to a 4-1 win. All three English teams have landed on the same side of the drawPrime Sport First legs for the last-16 tie will take place on March 4/5, with the those that advanced from the knockout play-offs hosting the encounter. The return leg will then take place the following week, which will see Arsenal, Liverpool and Villa all welcoming their opponents.
Liverpool have been pitted against Paris Saint-Germain in the worst possible Champions League last-16 draw for Arne Slot’s men.
The Reds topped the league phase, but have been rewarded with a tough tie against a newly-rampant PSG side.
PSG eased through their knockout play-off against Ligue 1 rivals Brest – beating them 10-0 on aggregate.
Luis Enrique’s men created Champions League history during their 7-0 second leg victory by becoming the first team to have seven different goalscorers in the same game.
Meanwhile Arsenal have been drawn against PSV Eindhoven, who won the tournament in 1988.
It is the third season in a row that that the two teams will have faced each other in Europe.
The Gunners and the Dutch giants have pitted their wits against each other in the group stages of the Europa League and Champions League respectively.
Arsenal won both fixtures at the Emirates, but drew and lost in their two away matches at the Philips Stadion.
And Arsenal will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself after losing to PSV in the last-16 in 2007 – which is the last time the Eredivisie holders reached the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa‘s reward for finishing in the top eight of the league phase is a clash against Club Brugge.
Should Unai Emery‘s men progress into the quarter-final, an all-English meeting with Liverpool will take place providing the Merseyside outfit prevail over PSG.
Arsenal meanwhile could face one of Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in another potentially mouthwatering match-up.
And if Mikel Arteta‘s side manage to reach the last-four of Europe’s premier competition for the first time since 2009, they could face either Liverpool or Villa.
In the other side of the draw, Barcelona and Bayern Munich know they have their work cut out to reach the final at the Allianz Arena.
Barcelona will face Benfica, while Bayern will face their Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16.
For Barca, if they emerge victorious, they will come up against either Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the quarter-finals.
As for Bayern, they could come up against Inter Milan or Feyenoord.
It means that Barca could face Bayern in the semi-finals – a repeat of their league phase meeting from October which saw the Spanish side ease to a 4-1 win.
First legs for the last-16 tie will take place on March 4/5, with the those that advanced from the knockout play-offs hosting the encounter.
The return leg will then take place the following week, which will see Arsenal, Liverpool and Villa all welcoming their opponents.
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