By Amaechi Agbo
The Round 16 draw for the 2023 UEFA Champions League has thrown up interesting fixtures with former champions, Liverpool and Real Madrid squaring up while French heavyweight and 2020 finalist, PSG will battle another champions and Germany giants, Bayern Munich.
Interestingly too, both the four teams above have met in finals in recent times, PSG lost 0-1 to Bayern Munich in 2020 final in Portugal while Liverpool who lost their two finals 3-1 in 2018 and 1-0 in 2022 will battle the La Liga giants, Real Madrid for a place in the last 8.
In other pairings, 2021 Champions, Chelsea will face 2013 finalists, Borussia Dortmund. 2022 Europa League Champions, Eintracht Frankfurt will battle Italian Serie A league leaders, Napoli.
2021 losing finalist, Manchester City will take on RB Leipzig just as Club Brugge from Belgium will battle Portugal side, FC Benfica.
Inter Milan will take on 2019 losing finalist, Tottenham Hotspur.
English Premier League is represented by four clubs – Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur same as German Bundesliga – Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Italian Serie A has three teams – Napoli, AC Milan and Inter Milan. French League 1 has only one representative – PSG as well as Belgium Jupila Liga and La Liga also have one team, Club Brugge and Real Madrid, in that order.
Portuguese League has two representatives – FC Porto and Benfica.
The first legs of the last 16 will take place on 14/15 and 21/22 February 2023 with the second legs on 7/8 and 14/15 March of same year.
Real Madrid of Spain are the defending champions.
UEFA Champions League Round 16 Full Draw
RB Leipzig Vs Man City
Club Brugge Vs Benfica
Liverpool Vs Real Madrid
Milan Vs Tottenham
Dortmund Vs Chelsea
Inter Vs Porto
PSG Vs Bayern Munich
Frankfurt Vs Napoli
