AllFootball  

15 hrs

Liverpool and Arsenal advance to the Champions League Round of 16, facing tough opponents in upcoming knockout matches.

The UEFA Champions League has reached a pivotal moment as the group stage concludes, setting the stage for the knockout rounds. The top eight teams, including Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter, Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa, have secured their spots in the Round of 16. Liverpool, finishing at the top of the league phase, is poised to face formidable opponents such as Monaco, Brest, Paris Saint-Germain, or Benfica.

Arsenal, who finished third, will encounter one of Feyenoord, Juventus, AC Milan, or PSV in their quest for European glory. Aston Villa, following a decisive 4-2 victory over Celtic, will meet either Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon, or Club Brugge. The draw for the play-offs, which will determine the final eight teams to join the Round of 16, is scheduled for January 31 at 110 UK time in Nyon, Switzerland.

Teams like Manchester City and Celtic, finishing 22nd and 21st respectively, will face tough challenges against giants such as Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the upcoming play-offs. These matches will unfold over two weeks, with the first legs on February 11 and 12, and the second legs on February 18 and 19. The winners will join the elite eight in the Round of 16, with the draw for this stage set for February 21.

The knockout phase promises thrilling encounters, with matches scheduled for March 4-5 and March 11-12, leading into the quarterfinals in April and culminating in the final on May 31. The competition adopts a bracket format from the play-off stage onward, ensuring an electrifying atmosphere as teams vie for the prestigious title.

For more details on fixtures and results, visit Champions League fixtures and to understand the play-off draw process, check play-off draw details.

#ChampionsLeague,#Liverpool,#Arsenal,#UEFA,#Football