2 years ago
Champions League draw: Who will face Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea in the last-16?
All four Premier League teams advanced to the last 16 of the Champions League with a game or more to spare, with three of the four winning their groups.
Chelsea are the odd ones out, as a late Zenit equalizer forced them to settle for second place in their group behind Juventus, and as a result, Thomas Tuchel's side may face a more difficult draw.
Almost all of the remaining loose ends were tied up in the final round of fixtures, with Atletico Madrid among the teams ensuring their progression on Tuesday night and Benfica advancing ahead of Barcelona on Wednesday.
However, due to snow in Bergamo, Atalanta's winner-take-all clash with Inter Milan has been postponed until Thursday.
Here's how the remaining clubs are faring ahead of Monday's draw for the next round.
Manchester City
Manchester City were playing catch-up after losing to PSG in September, but victory in the rematch, combined with dropped points for Mauricio Pochettino's side elsewhere, propelled the English champions through and allowed them to rest players for the final group game in Leipzig.
In 2020-21, Pep Guardiola's team will face Borussia Monchengladbach in the last-16 stage, with one of six possible group runners-up.
Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP, Inter Milan, or whichever of Atalanta and Villarreal advances to the next round could face City.
Liverpool
Liverpool's unblemished record in the group stages means they will be unfazed by any opponent in the second round, with Atletico Madrid, Porto, and AC Milan all defeated at home and away.
Last season, Jurgen Klopp's team defeated RB Leipzig in the last-16 before falling to Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, but they won't be able to face Real Madrid right away because Carlo Ancelotti's side defeated Inter Milan to win their group.
The Reds have options including PSG, Sporting CP, Benfica, Atalanta or Villarreal, and Red Bull Salzburg.
Manchester United
Manchester United struggled in the group stage, needing comebacks against Atalanta in both home and away games, but had the luxury of making changes in Ralf Rangnick's first Champions League game as manager.
The outcome of the rescheduled Atalanta-Villarreal game has no bearing on United's options because two teams from the same group cannot meet in the last 16.
The only teams left are PSG, Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP, Inter Milan, Benfica, and Red Bull Salzburg.
Chelsea
Chelsea coming in second place could be costly, especially given how close they came to winning in Russia.
Thomas Tuchel's side cannot be drawn against their group opponents Juventus again, nor against any of their Premier League opponents, leaving them with only four options.
Two of their potential opponents, Bayern Munich and Ajax, have yet to drop a single point in the competition this season. If the Blues avoid those two opponents, they will face either Real Madrid or Lille.
The group winners were Manchester City, Liverpool, Ajax, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Lille, and Juventus.
The runners-up are PSG, Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP, Inter Milan, Atalanta or Villarreal, Red Bull Salzburg, and Chelsea.