The draw for the last 16 of the 2020/21 Champions League has been made by UEFA, laying out the next hurdles that awaits Europe's biggest clubs in their quest for glory.
Barcelona will face Paris Saint-Germain in a repeat of their historic clash at the same stage of the competition back in 2016/17, while Liverpool have nouveau riche German side RB Leipzig and Chelsea have been drawn against Atletico Madrid in an extremely tough tie.
Of the three Premier League sides left in the competition, Manchester City have arguably the most favourable matchup against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Round of 16 draw ✔️
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 14, 2020
Which tie are you most excited for? ?#UCLdraw | #UCL pic.twitter.com/M6AqMYTygN
Liverpool
Liverpool are to face RB Leipzig for the first time. The Bundesliga side knocked Tottenham out en-route to last season’s semi-finals and were victorious over Manchester United in the group stage to reach the knockout rounds again.
News of the draw prompted some to pick it out as the tie of the round, with others remaining cautiously optimistic about the Reds' chances of progressing...
Who ya got: Jürgen Klopp OR Julian Nagelsmann❓#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/ek22bADuhq
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 14, 2020
See you soon, @LFC! ?
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) December 14, 2020
?⚪ #RBLeipzig #UCL pic.twitter.com/vayTM1JNu1
RB Leipzig v Liverpool in the Champions League draw. Two clubs whose path to this point was shaped in part by the intelligence and passion of Gerard Houllier. Fitting.
— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) December 14, 2020
A Naby Keita x RB Leipzig reunion ? pic.twitter.com/dOcQvczmO1
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) December 14, 2020
Leipzig Vs. Liverpool is probably the draw of RO16.
— víaan/வியான் (@98TillMortality) December 14, 2020
Definitely a tricky draw for Liverpool against Leipzig but I think we will go through. Thiago and Jota should be back by then
— RVK (@RVKPOOL) December 14, 2020
Leipzig-Liverpool.
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) December 14, 2020
Bad draw for both of them
Could've been a lot better, but could've been worse too ( Atletico or Barca.)
— Murtaza (@gambit_jr) December 14, 2020
Leipzig under Nagelsmann is a going to be a fun game. Play like we did against Fulham and they're going to chew us up, but Liverpool in the Champions league is a different animal. #UCLdraw
liverpool leipzig everyone will just be running
— ً (@sctionn80) December 14, 2020
Liverpool have never played against RB Leipzig
— Jürgen (@JurgenMindset) December 14, 2020
RB Leipzig have beaten every English team they’ve faced
Klopp, Thiago, Keita etc should know enough about Leipzig & German Football
I can’t wait ? pic.twitter.com/cNQaqWusXl
Chelsea
Chelsea and Atletico Madrid have met a few times in Europe over the last 11 years, dating back to group stage contests in 2009. They played in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup, the 2013/14 Champions League semi-finals and most recently in the 2017/18 group stage.
Again, reaction was mixed from a Blues perspective - some thinking it was the toughest draw the club could have got, and some thinking they'll progress nevertheless...
Hey @ChelseaFC ?
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) December 14, 2020
That CL draw could have gone better for Chelsea.
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) December 14, 2020
Chelsea get Atletico Madrid. Diego Costa, Diego Simeone and Luis Suarez at Stamford Bridge. pic.twitter.com/J1IDDrcbF3
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) December 14, 2020
Really didn’t want Atletico Madrid in the CL Draw for Chelsea. Not because I think we can’t beat them, we can, but because they’re going to make the tie as ugly as possible & try and take away any aesthetics to our game.
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) December 14, 2020
Will be a big test but gotta believe.
Last year, Chelsea finished 2nd and got Bayern in the next round whilst the group winner Valencia got Atalanta
— Nouman (@nomifooty) December 14, 2020
This year, Chelsea finished 1st and got Atletico Madrid whilst Sevilla who finished 2nd got Dortmund
Conclusion: we'll always get the toughest opponent no matter what!!
chelsea will beat atletico madrid, you heard it hear first.
— ajwa (@sybilbempah) December 14, 2020
Manchester City
Manchester City are meeting Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League for the third time in six seasons after previously being paired in the group stage on two occasions, most recently in 2016/17.
Gladbach won a UEFA Cup quarter-final between them way back in 1978/79, and are once again a leading light in Germany under the guidance of Marco Rose. Twitter, however, saw it differently, with the overwhelming consensus that City have again been handed a favourable last 16 draw...
2015/16: Man City in our group ?
— Gladbach (@borussia_en) December 14, 2020
2016/17: Man City in our group ?
2020/21: No Man City in our group ?
Last 16:#DieFohlen #UCL pic.twitter.com/LUTOpEOHgK
Pep Guardiola on the #UCL draw: "I learned when I was in Germany how big, important, historic they [Gladbach] are. It is a club I respect a lot, the quality and beauty of their football..."#MCFC | #ManCity
— Man City Xtra (@City_Xtra) December 14, 2020
Txiki B on Gladbach: "You have to highlight the coach at the head of it, Marco Rose. He is one of the top coaches and is loved by a lot of clubs in Europe."
— Jack Gaughan (@Jack_Gaughan) December 14, 2020
Was in a meeting so have just seen the draw. I’m presuming there is a Twitter meltdown for other teams about our draw?!
— Natalie Paweleck (@NataliePaweleck) December 14, 2020
Manchester City get the easiest of draws every single time, Lol Unbelievable. #ucldraw
— Ashwin Kumar (@bee_2790) December 14, 2020
borrusia monchengladbach vs Manchester city
— Tublak (@iam__sodiq) December 14, 2020
City into the next round ??
Manchester City R016:
— Maradonny ™️ ?? (@Maradonny34) December 14, 2020
20/21 Borussia Mönchengladbah
19/20 Real Madrid
18/19 Schalke
17/18 Basel
16/17 Monaco
15/16 Dynamo Kyiv
Talk about luck of the draw.
The fun gets underway in mid-February, as Europe's premier club competition takes a two-month break following a hectic group stage schedule.
For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook
Source : 90min