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Is there enough jeopardy in the new-look Champions League? (2:10)
“The Football Reporters” podcast crew share their frustrations with the new Champions League format ahead of the decisive final group stage fixtures. (2:10)
The new-look UEFA Champions League is about to reach the round-of-16 stage. But when does the draw take place, and when will the matches take place?
Here’s how it all works.
When is the draw for the round of 16?
The round-of-16 draw takes place on Feb. 21 at 6 a.m. ET / 11 a.m. GMT.
Arsenal will discover their round-of-16 opponents on Friday, Feb. 21. Getty Images
Which clubs are in the round-of-16?
The clubs that finished in the top eight of the league phase went directly through to the round of 16, along with the winners of the first four knockout playoff (KO-PO) round ties.
Bayern Munich (KO-PO)
Benfica (KO-PO)
Club Brugge (KO-PO)
Feyenoord Rotterdam (KO-PO)
They will be joined by the final four winners of the knockout playoff round ties, featuring the clubs placed ninth to 24th, with the second legs being played on Feb. 19.
Brest vs. Paris Saint-Germain (first leg 0-3)
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid (2-3)
Juventus vs. PSV Eindhoven (2-1)
Sporting CP vs. Borussia Dortmund (0-3)
Clubs finishing 25th to 36th were eliminated at the end of the league phase.
How does the round-of-16 draw work?
The knockout bracket is largely predetermined by a club’s final position in the league table. For instance, Liverpool and Barcelona, who finished first and second, can only play 15th, 16th, 17th or 18th (PSG, Benfica, Monaco or Brest) in the round of 16.
Under this new format, the draw places teams into a position in the bracket to create a fixture, rather than the traditional method of drawing one team against another.
The teams taking part in the knockout playoff round were drawn into their position in the bracket last month.
The round-of-16 draw sees the top eight teams go into one of two possible positions, which automatically creates not only the fixture but also the full bracket through to the final.
The top eight are in pairs: 1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 5th and 6th, 7th and 8th. The pairs will be drawn into opposite places, and can’t play each other until the final.
The draw starts with 7th and 8th, Lille and Villa, and works through the other three pairs in order: Atlético and Leverkusen, Arsenal and Inter, then Liverpool and Barcelona.
For instance, by Wednesday, Liverpool and Barcelona will have two options left going into the draw: the winners of Brest vs. PSG and Benfica, who beat Monaco.
The first team drawn out of Liverpool and Barcelona will be placed into the top half of the bracket, and thus play Brest or PSG. That automatically means the other club goes into the bottom half against Benfica.
The knockout bracket has been set through to the final. There is no draw for the specific ties of the quarterfinals and semifinals.
The teams placed in the top eight are seeded and will be at home in the second leg.
So who could the top eight play?
Possible round of 16 ties:
Liverpool or Barcelona will play one of: Brest or Paris Saint-Germain
Benfica
Arsenal or Internazionale will play one of: Juventus or PSV Eindhoven
Feyenoord Rotterdam
Lille or Aston Villa will play one of: Club Brugge
Sporting CP or Borussia Dortmund
Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen will play one of: Manchester City or Real Madrid
Bayern Munich
So there’s no country protection?
Correct. Clubs from the same country can play each other from the knockout playoff round onward. That’s why PSG were able to play Ligue 1 rivals Brest in the knockout playoff round.
The Champions League knockout playoff draw. FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images
How did the bracket shape up?
The top half of the knockout playoff round bracket looks much stronger than the lower half.
Man City and Real Madrid cannot play Bayern Munich until the final, as they are in opposite halves.
But Real Madrid and Man City know that Juventus and PSV are in the same path of the bracket through to a potential quarterfinal tie.
What are the round of 16 fixture dates?
First legs: March 4-5
Second legs: March 11-12
Each club plays once on a Tuesday and once on a Wednesday.
What dates are the other rounds?
QUARTERFINALS
First legs: April 8-9
Second legs: April 15-16
SEMIFINALS
First legs: April 29-30
Second legs: May 6-7
FINAL
May 31, Allianz Arena, Munich
Who gets home advantage in the quarterfinals and semifinals?
There will be a draw, straight after the round of 16 is set on Feb. 21, to determine who plays at home first in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
This is not done on league phase seeding, so the final placings did not give a team home advantage beyond the round of 16.
Can January signings play in the Champions League?
Yes, clubs were able to make three changes to their official squad.
So, if a club signed four players in the January transfer window, they would not be able to register all of them from the knockout rounds of European competition.
For instance, Man City signed four new players. They registered Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov — which meant Vitor Reis couldn’t be added.
The overall limit of 25 players remains. If a club wanted to add a new signing, they had to remove someone else.
