Champions League R16 draw: Arsenal, Barcelona, PSG to go out?

The path to Wembley for the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League final is now open, with the draw for the round of 16 taking place on Monday.

Defending champions Manchester City and rivals Bayern Munich have been given comfortable itineraries for the latter stages with matches against FC Copenhagen and Lazio respectively. Real Madrid must overcome a difficult match against RB Leipzig, while Barcelona and Napoli face off in a crucial clash between the champions of Spain and Italy.

But with several heavyweight clubs missing from the last 16 this season – Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Juventus are all out – the draw looks more open than ever. So can any of the underdogs take advantage of a good draw and use it to propel them to the latter stages and perhaps even Wembley?

Here are the round of 16 matches and how they will play out.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)

FC PORTO vs. ARSENAL

Although the draw looks promising for Arsenal's hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2009-10 season, Premier League leaders should be wary of a Porto side that boasts experience and qualities in abundance – none more so than the ever-present defender Pepê, who at 40 became the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history with three goals in Group H.

Only Spanish champions Barcelona took points from Sergio Conceicao's side in the group stage, with Porto qualifying in second place, level on points with Barca.

Arsenal will be favorites with Mikel Arteta's young side leading the way in the Premier League, but Porto are dangerous opponents with Brazilian forwards Galeno and Evanilson scoring four goals each in the group stage.

Having been eliminated from the Europa League by Sporting CP last season, Arsenal have recently become familiar with the ability of Portuguese opponents to cause an upset and Porto are well accustomed to performing at this stage of the competition, so the Gunners will be vulnerable unless 'they don't deal. Conceicao with total respect. After coming through a soft group, this will be a step forward for Arsenal.

WINNERS: Porto

---

NAPOLI vs. BARCELONA

Without doubt the tie of the round, the champions of Italy facing the champions of Spain. Although neither of them have yet been able to replicate the form they displayed in winning their respective titles last season.

Napoli are unpredictable and sacked Luciano Spalletti's replacement Rudi Garcia after less than six months in charge before replacing him with former Inter Milan and Watford manager Walter Mazzarri in November, but they possess still the offensive threat of Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Barcelona finished top of their group, but away defeats to Shakhtar Donetsk and Antwerp highlight their vulnerability, so Napoli will be confident of securing a crucial win in the first leg at Napoli.

Both teams showed defensive weaknesses during the group stage and, with both much stronger on offense than defense, it will likely be a high-score tie. It's difficult to determine at the moment, with domestic form in February likely to dictate the eventual winners, but whichever way things go it will be entertaining.

WINNERS: Naples

---

PSG vs. REAL SOCIEDAD

PSG were lucky to qualify for the knockout stages after an unconvincing campaign in Group F where they won just two games. A controversial stoppage-time penalty against Newcastle at home on Matchday 5 resulted in a 1-1 draw that ultimately saw Luis Enrique's side qualify as second in the group, edging out AC Milan, third, thanks to their face-to-face. – head registration.

But while PSG's status as a regular contender at this stage of the competition might tempt many to nominate them as favorites in this showdown, they face a tough opponent in The Realwho emerged from the group stage with the best defensive record of any club after conceding just two goals in six games.

Imanol Alguacil's side don't score much either, netting only seven times in the group, but they are a well-drilled unit and will be organized and determined against PSG.

The French champions are no longer the exciting team of star players built by the club's Qatari owners, but they still have Kylian Mbappé. Yet the French striker has been disappointing in the group stage and appears to be counting down the time until his contract expires next summer. The Real I have nothing to fear against PSG.

WINNERS: Real Sociedad

---

INTER MILAN vs. ATLETICO MADRID

These are two teams who recently suffered defeat in the Champions League final: Inter last season; Atletico in 2014 and 2016 – but both harbor realistic ambitions to go all the way this time if they avoid the favourites.

Both came through the group stage unbeaten, so you can expect two hotly contested matches in this showdown as coaches Simone Inzaghi and Diego Simeone will try to outdo each other.

Serie A leaders Inter are the team in form at the moment, with Inzaghi's side holding a four-point lead at the top of the Serie A table. Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram pose the threat of goal, with Hakan Calhanoglu also weighing in with goals from midfield.

But with Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata, Atletico have two of the Champions League's top scorers – alongside Man City's Erling Haaland and Man United's Rasmus Hojlund with five goals – and remain a well-drilled defensive side under Simeone .

The quality of the coaches and attackers of the two teams suggests a high-level tie, but which will be very close. Maybe even sanctions.

WINNER: Atlético Madrid

---

PSV EINDHOVEN v BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Dortmund's Champions League pedigree and comfortable progress as Group F winners place them among the favorites for this encounter, but PSV are the only team in Europe's major leagues with a 100% domestic record and have scored a number incredible 56 goals in 16 Eredivisie. matches so far this season.

Coach Peter Bosz, who guided Ajax to the 2017 Europa League final against Manchester United, has transformed PSV with a mix of exciting youngsters – among them Johan Bakayoko, Ricardo Pepi and Isaac Babadi – and stars experienced players, including Hirving Lozano, Luuk de Jong. and Patrick van Aanholt.

Pepi, Malik Tillman and Sergiño Dest also give PSV strong representation at the USMNT, but their ability to pull off an upset against Dortmund depends on whether they can resist interest from rival clubs for their young stars in January.

If PSV manage to hold on to their squad and maintain their domestic form, they will see Dortmund as a beatable opponent, having avoided the knockout stages like Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

But Dortmund will also consider PSV a favorable draw and Edin Terzic's side should come out on top.

WINNERS: Borussia Dortmund

---

LAZIO vs. BAYERN MUNICH

Bayern will view this tie as a comfortable path to the quarter-finals and, for Lazio, it could be about doing their best to keep the scoreline low.

Thomas Tuchel's side qualified for the round of 16 as easy winners of Group A, while Lazio became second behind Atletico Madrid in Group E, ahead of Feyenoord and Celtic, two of the teams the weakest in the competition.

With Lazio struggling in the middle of the Serie A table, manager Maurizio Sarri's immediate challenge will be to improve his results to ensure he is still in the job by the time he faces Tuchel during of the new year.

With Harry Kane in unrivaled form for Bayern, the Bundesliga champions have established themselves alongside Real Madrid as one of the few serious threats to Manchester City's hopes of retaining the Champions League. And while Lazio will be backed by a passionate home crowd in Rome, with the experience of Ciro Immobile, Luis Alberto and Pedro in their squad, it's virtually impossible to find a valid reason to back them to beat Bayern over two legs.

WINNERS: Bayern Munich

---

FC COPENHAGEN v MANCHESTER CITY

Although Copenhagen reached the last 16 thanks largely to a 4-3 home win over Manchester United in Group A, don't expect the Danish club to repeat that shock result against City.

Coach Jacob Neestrup also guided his team to a 0-0 draw against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. The 35-year-old therefore deserves immense respect for Copenhagen's performances so far this season, but reigning European champions City will be a step too far. on his side.

Roony Bardghji, the 18-year-old striker who scored the winner against United, is Copenhagen's player to watch and a youngster with the potential to earn a place at a big club like City. But over two matches, it will be a comfortable encounter for Pep Guardiola's side, who will be relieved to have avoided PSG and Napoli at this stage of the tournament.

City can expect a loud and passionate atmosphere at Parken Stadium for the first leg, but they have nothing to fear from the tie itself.

WINNERS: Manchester City

---

RB LEIPZIG vs. REAL MADRID

This could be a tricky tie for Carlo Ancelotti's side, especially when they travel to Germany for the first leg with memories of last season's 3-2 defeat to Leipzig in the group stage.

With Jude Bellingham emerging as arguably the star of the group stage, Real Madrid certainly have the players to make it a comfortable match, but Leipzig have become Champions League regulars in recent years and manager Marco Rose can make life difficult.

In attack, Loïs Openda, Benjamin Sesko, a threat. But this will only become a dangerous tie for Madrid if they give Leipzig the opportunity to hurt them.

Madrid have their weaknesses and long-term injuries to Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba and Éder Militão have hurt them defensively, but Vinícius Júnior should be back from his thigh injury in time to play this clash, so they should improve.

WINNERS: Real Madrid