Liverpool face PSG as Champions League last-16 draw sets up Madrid derby | Sport

Liverpool will face Paris Saint-Germain on the 16th Thailand Champions Lee Ground, offering a major hurdle in an attempt to lift the trophy for the first time since 2019.

This is the toughest challenge for those presented to the three Premier League representatives. Arsenal fantasizes a chance to overcome PSV Eindhoven with two legs, but Aston Villa prefers to navigate a rematch with Surprise Package Club Bruges for the quarter-final location. However, the outstanding tie from a certain distance is the Madrid derby between its old rivals Real and Atletico.

Arne Slot's side will host the second round of meetings with PSG at Anfield, giving potential advantages against enemies who clicked form after the start of the stud in competition this season. PSG passed domestic rival Brest in the playoffs and finished the league phase with an impressive victory over Manchester City and Stuttgart. Nevertheless, Liverpool can refer to the league stage where they rejected Real Madrid, Bayer Lebaxen, AC Milan and more.

Arsenal, playing his second leg at home, faces PSV with the third doubleheader in many consecutive seasons. These previous meetings were the bond between the Europa League and the Champions League group stage, losing once before Mikel Arteta's side scored 1-1 in December 2023. They also defeated less-strength Liverpool in Match Day 8 in the League Phase.

For Villa, the first leg trip to Bruges revives memories of a strange league-stage defeat against the same opponent in November. The match was literally handed over to the Belgian side as Tyrone Mings picked up the ball from a short goal kick. Bruges played some exceptional football to overcome Atalanta 5-2, which was fantasized in the tally in the playoffs.

If Liverpool and Villa both win, they will face each other for the all-English quarterfinals in April. If Arsenal passes, they will play the winners of a real tasty clash with Atlético, a rerun of the 2014 and 2016 finals. The real-life champions will hold their first leg after being forced to negotiate a playoff with Manchester City. The Madrid Derby was last performed at this competition eight years ago. This is when Real defeated Atletico in the 2016-17 semi-finals.

The rest of the bond picks will see Bayern Munich and Bayer Leberkusen leading the Bundesliga competition onto the European stage. Vincent Company's Bayern sits eight points away from his opponent at the top of the domestic league, but by acquiring this tie he was able to clean past the Celtic. Xabi Alonso and Leverkusen want to benefit from holding their second leg.

Feynauld will face Inter Milan in a massive early Test of Robin Van Persy, the surprise appointment as his former club head coach. They hope to follow the blueprint set for a victory over AC Milan in the playoff round. The winner of that tie will be played by anyone through the All-German Conference.

The other two final 16 connect Benfica and Lille, Borussia Dortmund and Pitt Barcelona. Each winner will meet the last eight. The final 16 games will be held on March 4-5 and 11-12, with the quarterfinals being held on April 8-9 and 15-16.