Defending champions Chelsea will play French Ligue 1 champs Lille in the Uefa Champions League last 16 after the draw for the knockout stages took place for a second time.
A “technical problem” caused an error in the initial draw, which Uefa said had been “declared void”.
A surprise turn of events saw the initial last-16 draw declared void after what UEFA called a “technical error” involving Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United.
It was a case of deja vu for defending champions Chelsea, who were drawn against Lille in both the original and rescheduled draw.
Manchester City, last season’s losing finalists, face Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon for the first time since the two sides met in the Europa League nine years ago.
In the standout tie of the round, 13-time champions Real Madrid come up against French powerhouse Paris St-Germain.
Record 15 times European champions Spanish side Real Madrid will perhaps feel the most aggrieved by the error – they were drawn against Portugal’s Benfica in the morning but will now face French Lgue 1 league leaders Paris St Germain (PSG) instead.
The 2019/20 champions and six times winners Liverpool’s reward for becoming the first English side to win all six Champions League group games is a tie with three times winners Italy’s Inter Milan, who won Serie A last season and currently top the table after 17 games.
Manchester United looked to have been offered the biggest reprieve after drawing PSG in the initial draw, but a meeting with Spanish champions Atletico Madrid in European competition since 1991 will still provide a stern test.
One major change this season…
The first legs will be spread out across 15, 16, 22 and 23 February, with the second legs on 8, 9, 15 and 16 March.
Chelsea are the only English side to play their first leg at home, with the other three all away first after winning their groups.
A major change from this season sees the away goals rule removed, so ties level after 180 minutes will go to extra time.
If the teams still cannot be separated after the additional 30 minutes, then it goes to a penalty shootout.
This season’s final takes place in St Petersburg, Russia, on 28 May.
Champions League last-16 draw:
- Red Bull Salzburg (Austria) v Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) v Manchester City (England)
- Benfica (Portugal) v Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands)
- Chelsea (England) v Lille (France)
- Atletico Madrid (Spain) v Manchester United (England)
- Villarreal (Spain) v Juventus (Italy)
- Inter Milan (Italy) v Liverpool (England)
- PSG (France) v Real Madrid (Spain)
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