Champions League last-16 draw: Liverpool face Leipzig; Chelsea get tricky tie
Liverpool will face RB Leipzig in the Champions League Round of 16 after the draw for the first round of the knockout stages was made.
Liverpool are hoping to regain the Champions League title they won in 2019. They will have to get through an intriguing battle against Leipzig to stand any chance of doing so.
Leipzig were the team that knocked Manchester United out of the competition in the group stage. Liverpool will be hoping to avoid a similar fate.
It will mark a return to his former club for Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita.
Chelsea face a tricky tie against Atletico Madrid. It could see Diego Costa return to Stamford Bridge, although the striker has been linked with a departure from Atletico.
Atletico knocked Liverpool out of last season’s competition, so will be looking to pose another threat to an English team’s hopes of progression.
Like Liverpool, Manchester City, who are looking to make better progress in the competition under Pep Guardiola, will face a German team. Borussia Mönchengladbach await them in the last-16.
Gladbach side finished as runners up to Real Madrid in Group B.
Reigning holders Bayern Munich will face Lazio, who are competing in the knockout stages for the first time in 20 years.
Another of the standout ties of the round will see Barcelona face Paris Saint-Germain. That game will see Neymar going up against his former club for the first time since his world record transfer, with PSG out for revenge after Barca’s comeback win over them in 2017.
Last-16 draw in full:
Borussia Mönchengladbach v Manchester City
Lazio v Bayern Munich
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
RB Leipzig v Liverpool
Porto v Juventus
Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain
Sevilla v Borussia Dortmund
Atalanta v Real Madrid
The first legs will take place on February 16, 17, 23 and 24, while the second legs will be played on March 9, 10, 16, 17.
Teams who finished as runners up in their groups (all listed first above) will play the first legs at home.