The Champions League knockout stages are upon us, and with eight wins under our belt, we're set to make history. But who will we face in the next round? Let's dive into the details and explore the potential opponents we could encounter. But here's where it gets interesting...
First, let's take a look at who's already qualified for the last 16. We're joined by seven other teams, including Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Tottenham. Two more Premier League clubs, Chelsea and Manchester City, have also secured their spots. Sporting Lisbon's dramatic 94th-minute winner against Athletic Club was the final team to book their place.
Now, let's talk about the teams that missed out. Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain, last season's finalists, will be in the play-off round. Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, and Bayer Leverkusen will also be seeded, giving them home advantage in the second leg. The unseeded teams are Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Monaco, Qarabag, Bodo/Glimt, and Benfica, who secured their spot in dramatic fashion with a 98th-minute header from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.
So, who could we face in the next round? It all depends on the league positions. Real Madrid and Inter Milan, finishing ninth and tenth, will be paired with Bodo/Glimt and Benfica, who finished in the last two qualifying spots. The other seven ties will follow a similar process. However, as the top eight qualifiers, we know we'll face one of the sides that finished between 15th and 18th spot, which includes Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, and Olympiacos.
The draw for the play-off round will take place on Friday at 11 am UK time, reducing our potential pool of opponents to two. The first leg will be on February 17-18, followed by the second leg on February 24-25. After that, we'll know who our opponent will be. The last-16 stage will begin in March, with the first leg away from home on 10-11th, and we'll host our opponents at Emirates Stadium on 17-18 March. So, get ready for some thrilling matches ahead!
