European football’s biggest rivalry is back as Real Madrid were drawn against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League last 16, marking their fifth consecutive knockout meeting. Madrid will host the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu before travelling to England for the return.
City, winners in 2023, qualified directly for this stage, while the 15-time champions Real Madrid came through the play-offs after defeating Benfica 3-1 on aggregate. City also edged Madrid 2-1 in December during the league phase.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were handed a heavyweight clash with Chelsea, with PSG hosting the first leg after a dramatic 5-4 aggregate play-off win over AS Monaco. Chelsea advanced directly after finishing sixth in the league phase, and the sides last met in July’s Club World Cup final, where the English club won 3-0.
Elsewhere, Arsenal face Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United take on Barcelona, Liverpool meet Galatasaray, Tottenham Hotspur clash with Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich face Atalanta, while Bodø/Glimt play Sporting CP.
First-leg matches will be played on March 10 and 11, with return fixtures a week later. The Champions League final is scheduled for May 30 at the Puskás Aréna.
