The 69th season of Europe’s elite club competition, the 32nd since it was renamed the UEFA Champions League, started on Tuesday 27 June 2023 and runs to Saturday 1 June 2024.
The round of 16 for this season’s Champions League is locked in.
Monday’s draw produced some intriguing matchups, highlighted by Inter Milan, defeated finalists in 2022-23, paired with Atletico Madrid. The other standout fixture of the round also features a clash between Italian and Spanish sides, as Napoli will take on Barcelona.
On the whole, Serie A clubs were arguably handed the most difficult task of any domestic league, as Lazio will battle Bayern Munich.
Meanwhile, holders Manchester City will try to accomplish what their rivals Manchester United could not by eliminating FC Copenhagen. The Danish club finished second in Group A thanks largely to a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Red Devils in November.
Elsewhere, Real Sociedad’s reward for pipping Inter to top spot in Group D is a date with Paris Saint-Germain, a club Luis Enrique said “no team” will want to face in the last 16.
Champions League Last-16 Draw:
FC Porto vs. Arsenal
Napoli vs. Barcelona
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Real Sociedad
Inter Milan vs. Atletico Madrid
PSV Eindhoven vs. Borussia Dortmund
Lazio vs. Bayern Munich
FC Copenhagen vs. Manchester City
RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid
Clubs from the same domestic league aren’t eligible to face one another at this stage. That restriction is lifted beginning in the quarterfinals.
The round of 16 kicks off on February 13, 2023, and concludes with decisive second-leg fixtures in mid-March. The seeded teams, listed second in their respective matchups above, will play the first legs away from home.
The entire knockout phase will again be played without the away goals rule, which UEFA abolished in 2021. Any tie that’s level after 180 minutes will go to extra time and then possibly penalties.
This season’s Champions League final will be held at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium on June 1, 2024
