Following Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final in Kyiv, Vinicius Junior’s game-winning goal allowed Real Madrid to win their 14th European championship in May’s final.
However, Liverpool will now have a chance to get back at that defeat quickly as they attempt to advance to the quarterfinals of this year’s competition. They will play their first leg at Anfield on Tuesday, February 21, and their second leg at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, March 15.
Reacting to the draw, former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told Sky Sports News: “It’s a very difficult tie for Liverpool. Finishing second in their group, they don’t get the opportunity to play at home in the second leg.
“However, Jurgen Klopp’s side will want to avenge the final defeat last year, even though it doesn’t win you the competition. It does give you something to put right, though.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Christian Pulisic will face Borussia Dortmund, a Bundesliga team, for Graham Potter’s Chelsea. Prior to the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, March 7, the first leg will take place on Wednesday, February 15.
Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic said of the draw: “We have a top team waiting for us. In Aubameyang and Pulisic we’re meeting old friends. We’re looking forward to seeing you again and of course, we want to make it through to the next round.”
Tottenham’s manager Antonio Conte will have extra motivation because he previously led Milan’s bitter local rivals Inter between 2019 and 2021. Tottenham is drawn to play AC Milan.
Prior to the second leg, which will take place on Wednesday, March 8, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Conte will make a return trip to the San Siro with Spurs on Tuesday, February 14.
In an attempt to reach a second Champions League final, Manchester City will play RB Leipzig. In their last 17 Champions League games, Pep Guardiola’s team has only lost once (W14 D2) to German sides, though that defeat came away at RB Leipzig in December 2021.
The first leg of the match will take place in Germany on Wednesday, February 22, and the return leg will take place at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, March 14.
Another notable last-16 matchup pits PSG against Bayern Munich in a replay of a recent championship. Bayern defeated the Ligue 1 team 1-0 in the 2020 final to claim their sixth European championship!
