It’s the biggest and most fascinating club competition in Europe, featuring iconic teams battling for continental supremacy. This is what makes the Champions League such a hugely popular competition.
Filled with mouth-watering clashes, the 2023/24 campaign has already thrilled fans with plenty of outstanding matches in the group stage, plus more than a few surprises as English sides Manchester United and Newcastle United fell by the wayside.
As we move ahead to the Round of 16, there’s plenty of eager anticipation to discover how the knockout stages will unfold. This inevitably brings the clamour of excitement and as usual, high demand for Champions League tickets, given that both fans and neutrals alike will consider many of the upcoming encounters as being unmissable.
Champions League Round of 16 Draw
Let’s take a look at which teams were paired in this exciting Round of 16 draw, as we give our thoughts on the potential of each side making progress. We’ve listed the matches in date order in which the first leg matches will be played - important if you’re planning to book tickets and attend the games!
FC Copenhagen vs Manchester City
First Leg: 13 February (Second Leg: 6 March)
Last season Manchester City conquered everyone in their path, going on to claim a historic first ever Champions League title. And it goes without saying, Pep Guardiola and the boys remain hungry to see that feat repeated, having coasted through the 2023/24 group stage with a perfect record of six wins.
Despite being considered one of the biggest underdog sides remaining in the competition, FC Copenhagen has already surpassed all expectations, progressing from a group that contained Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Galatasaray. Having already enjoyed winning sensations at home against the Red Devils, they’ll be keen to do the same against the Citizens.
RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid
First Leg: 13 February (Second Leg: 6 March)
Real Madrid famously prioritise European success above anything else, and this 2023/24 campaign is no different. The Spanish giants were the only other side alongside Man City to achieve a perfect record of six wins in the group stage. Carlo Ancelotti and his talented squad will undoubtedly be looking to maintain that impressive consistency.
RB Leipzig emerged second from the group topped by Manchester City, providing the English side with a stern test in both meetings that ultimately ended in defeat for the German outfit. Nevertheless, they are often seen as dark horses with the potential to cause upsets, and that will be the objective against the continental titans from Spain.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Sociedad
First Leg: 14 February (Second Leg: 5 March)
Always the bridesmaid and never the bride, despite massive spending over the years, winning the Champions League has remained beyond the reach of Paris Saint-Germain. This time around they emerged from a genuine group of death, featuring Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United and 2023 finalists AC Milan.
Real Sociedad stand in the way of PSG and their ambitions, and the side from northern Spain should never be underestimated. La Real are extremely tough to beat and that could give them an edge against their French opponent. Should they return from Paris with a draw or victory, they’ll fancy their chances at home in San Sebastian.
Lazio vs Bayern Munich
First Leg: 14 February (Second Leg: 5 March)
Having done well to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League with solid performances thus far, Lazio now face their biggest challenge in the competition. And the Italians will need to be at their very best if they’re going to survive the next test of their credentials.
Bayern Munich will always remain among the Champions League favourites each season, and that’s no different in the 2023/24 campaign, although stuttering domestic form in the Bundesliga has raised a few doubts. That being said, this is a tie the Bavarian outfit should really be comfortably winning, even if Lazio will obviously have other ideas.
Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid
First Leg: 20 February (Second Leg: 13 March)
Only goal difference separated Inter Milan above Real Sociedad at the top of their group table. Now the Italians will face an arguably much tougher Spanish outfit, as they seek to forge a pathway to the latter stages of the Champions League. Flying high in Serie A right now, Inter will certainly fancy their chances.
However, despite the somewhat hit and miss form in LaLiga thus far, Atletico Madrid coached by Diego Simeone, are fearsome continental opponents. Both ties are likely to be tight affairs, making them all the more intriguing. Of course, gaining some advantage in Milan will be key for Atletico, who will undoubtedly aim to settle this tie in their own fortress.
PSV Eindhoven vs Borussia Dortmund
First Leg: 20 February (Second Leg: 13 March)
At the time of writing, PSV Eindhoven are flying in the Eredivisie with a perfect winning record. They suffered one defeat in the Champions League group stage and that came against Arsenal, who thumped the Dutch outfit 4-0 at the Emirates. Now in the knockout stages, getting a strong advantage at home will be vital for their continued progress.
Mixed form has marked the Bundesliga campaign so far, yet by stark contrast, Borussia Dortmund looked strong in a highly competitive group, topping the table ahead of PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle United. If they can retain the same form and personality, the German side will surely back themselves against PSV.
FC Porto vs Arsenal
First Leg: 21 February (Second Leg: 12 March)
Habitual competitors in the Champions League, progressing beyond the Round of 16 has been quite challenging for FC Porto during the last decade - although they are more than capable of producing memorable upsets. Taking their potential for granted would be a serious mistake for any opponents, including the Gunners, who next face the Portuguese outfit.
Right now, Arsenal might be a little more preoccupied with recovering their Premier League form, and that could play into the hands of their European rivals in the knockout stage. But if the ambitions of Mikel Arteta and his talented side are any indication, the London club will be just as keen to make their mark in Europe, making this a pivotal tie for that quest.
Napoli vs FC Barcelona
First Leg: 21 February (Second Leg: 12 March)
Observing the domestic and continental resurgence of Napoli has been a joy to behold. Not since the days of Diego Maradona strutting his stuff has the Italian club enjoyed such a prominent status in the European game. Nevertheless, recent domestic form has been poor and that’s unfortunate timing, ahead of their next massive Champions League test.
And speaking of resurgences, after winning LaLiga last season, FC Barcelona would appear to have finally overcome the loss of iconic Lionel Messi back in 2021. However, the financial problems continue to persist, making progress in the Champions League an economic priority that overshadows the sporting ambitions.
Zenseats UCL Predictions
The Round of 16 will shape the destinies of all the teams involved, each seeking to reach the Quarter Finals and feature among the last eight in the Champions League, although we do already have plenty of favourites to choose from.
We reckon that both remaining English sides, Manchester City and Arsenal, are likely to progress, accompanied by Spanish titans Real Madrid and Barcelona. As for the German clubs, it’s difficult to imagine Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund falling short at this stage.
As for what could potentially be the tightest Round of 16 clashes, Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid and PSG vs Real Sociedad are both ties that are tough to call either way. However, we can’t shake the feeling that Spanish teams might have a slight edge.
But this is what makes attempting to predict outcomes all the more fun, given that football itself is often unpredictable, and that’s why the sport is just so fascinating. So, if you’re keen to witness Champions League history in motion, don’t forget to check out all our ticketing options and packages.
