An exciting last game of Champions League matches confirms the teams moving to the knockout levels. Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Man City, and Celtic, all five British clubs, have moved forward, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Villa clinching last 16 berths, while City and Celts will go to the play-offs. While other European powerhouses such Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and PSG also front play-off opponents, defending champions Man City provided a comeback against Club Brugge to keep their hopes alive. Some teams are poised for major challenges in their march toward Champions League greatness with the knockout stage matches on the horizon.
Knockout Phase Play-Offs: Key Matchups And Possible Opponents
Scheduled for 11-12 and 18-19 February, the knockout phase playoffs will ascertain the last teams to progress to the last 16. Officially, the draw will be held at 11:00 GMT on Friday, January 31, but depending on their league phase standings, clubs already have a 50-50 shot of playing particular opponents. Either Man City or Celtic will face current European champions Real Madrid; the other will meet Bayern Munich. Should they advance, their last 16 opponent will be either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen. Juventus could also encounter AC Milan, while Paris Saint-Germain is scheduled to meet another Ligue 1 team—maybe either Monaco or Brest.
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Last 16 Matchups And Road To The Final
As Liverpool and Barcelona sit in places one and two, they can meet only in the final. Liverpool will meet one of Monaco, Brest, PSG, or Benfica; Barcelona will play the other from this collateral pool. Third-placed in this pool Arsenal will meet either Feyenoord, Juventus, AC Milan, or PSV; Club Aston Villa, who clinched the final eighth by besting Celtic, will meet Sporting, Club Bruges, Atalanta, or Borussia Dortmund. These are to take place in the round of sixteen matches slated for 4-5 and 11-12 March, with the draw on 21 February determining the exact matches, as well as setting out each of the paths leading to the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Potential All-British Clashes In Later Rounds
British clubs that could meet at later stages of next season’s Champions League. Liverpool may go head-to-head with Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, should both advance. Arsenal would then face either Celtic or Manchester City at this stage. Other clashes between British sides are still possible, semi-finals or even final included. The whole picture will be clearer after the draws for the last-16 and beyond, which will be on February 21.
