Knockout phase
From the last 16 until the semi-finals, clubs play two matches against each other on a home-and-away basis with the same rules as the qualifying and play-off rounds applied. In the last 16, group winners play runners-up other than teams from their own pool or nation, while from the quarter-finals on the draw is free.
The remaining teams will learn their last-16 fate in Nyon on Monday, so Goal gives you the run-down on what to expect from what promises to be an intriguing event.
Round of 16
The draw will be held on 16 December 2013. The first legs will be played on 18, 19, 25 and 26 February, and the second legs will be played on 11, 12, 18 and 19 March 2014.
WHEN IS THE DRAW?
With the Champions League
group stage having come to an end on Wednesday, the focus of the
football world will now turn towards Monday's draw for the knockout
stages, with coaches desperate to find out whom they will face in the
round of 16.
The event will take place in Nyon, Switzerland and
is scheduled to start at 11.00GMT, with Uefa general secretary Gianni
Infantino in charge of proceedings.
WHEN ARE THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE KNOCKOUT STAGES?
From
the last 16 until the semi-finals, clubs play two matches against each
other on a home-and-away basis under the same rules as the qualifying
and play-off rounds.
The first legs of the round of 16 will be
played on February 18, 19, 25 and 26, with the second legs scheduled for
March 11, 12, 18 and 19.
The quarter-finals will then take place on April 1, 2, 8 and 9, while the semi-finals will be held on April 22 and 23, with the return fixtures to be played on April 29 and 30.
The final will be played at Benfica's Estadio da Luz on Saturday, May 24.
WHICH TEAMS HAVE QUALIFIED?
The eight teams who topped their respective sections in the group stage (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona) are seeded, with the eight runners-up unseeded.
The runners-up are drawn first and play the first-leg matches at home. They cannot be paired with either the winners from their group or clubs from the same association.
| GROUP WINNERS | RUNNERS-UP |
 Manchester United |
 Bayer Leverkusen |
 Real Madrid |
 Galatasaray |
 Paris Saint-Germain |
 Olympiakos |
| Bayern Munich |
Manchester City |
| Chelsea |
Schalke |
| Borussia Dortmund |
Arsenal |
| Atletico Madrid |
 Zenit St Petersburg |
| Barcelona |
 AC Milan |
The make-up of the pots, as shown above, and the aforementioned rules mean that Bayern Munich could meet Arsenal once more, while Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund could also meet familiar opposition in Manchester City.
Other high-profile ties would potentially be
Premier League champions Manchester United against AC Milan or another
encounter between Barcelona and the Gunners.
On the other hand,
dark horses Atletico Madrid could be paired with one of Galatasaray or
Olympiakos in what would be a rather favourable draw for the Primera
Division side.
Wednesday’s results left 16 teams soaring, those clubs having confirmed their place in the knockout round of UEFA Champions League. Come Monday? A few will be rue their knockout round draws, with two English clubs destined for nightmare match ups in the Round of 16.
By virtue of tough groups (and finishing just behind last year’s finalists, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund), Manchester City and Arsenal are in the runners-up pot – the pot that will be drawn against the eight winners from Champions League’s group stage. Those teams that were just good enough to make the final 16 but not good enough to win their groups? Yeah, Manchester City and Arsenal can’t draw them. They’ll be matched up against the best teams in Europe.
There are, however, two caveats. First, teams can’t be drawn against clubs they faced in group play. Been there, done that, moving on. Second, teams can’t be drawn against clubs from their own federations. If we are going to see rematches of games we see domestically (at least) twice a year, it’s going to be in the later rounds. Champions League’s exotic that way.
Unfortunately, come Monday, those rules will work against Arsenal and City. While each will be able to avoid one German team (Dortmund and Munich, respectively), they won’t be able to draw Manchester United in the Round of 16. They also won’t be able to raw Chelsea. Mileage will vary, but for many, those are the two easiest teams in the group winners pool. Not being able to draw them increases the odds City and Arsenal will be draw against one of the tournament’s true favorites.
Those favorites (in group order): Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona. Some may see PSG and Atlético as the lessors of that group, but results say otherwise. Between league and Champions League results, these are the six standout teams in Europe. The fact that Arsenal and City can only draw them (and not Manchester United or Chelsea) leaves UEFA’s rules are working against them.
Who would you rather get, if you’re Arsenal? Paris Saint-Germain? Or Manchester United? And if you’re City: Wouldn’t you take Chelsea over a draw that could land you Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Dortmund? The Blues are tough, but they’re not on that level.
For the rest of the group stage runners-up, life is only slightly easier. Though they could also draw Chelsea or Manchester United … well, they could draw Chelsea or Manchester United. Those clubs may not being performing to Bayern’s level, but they’re still likely favorites in the Round of 16. Especially of they can’t draw Arsenal or City.
Here are the eight group stage winners and who they could draw on Monday.*
Atlético Madrid (Group G) – Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Manchester City, Schalke, Arsenal, Milan
Barcelona (Group H) - Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Manchester City, Schalke, Arsenal, Zenit St. Petersburg
Bayern Munich (Group D) - Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Arsenal, Zenit St. Petersburg, Milan
Borussia Dortmund (Group F) - Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Manchester City, Zenit St. Petersburg, Milan
Chelsea (Group E) - Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Zenit St. Petersburg, Milan
Manchester United (Group A) - Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Schalke, Zenit St. Petersburg, Milan
Paris Saint-Germin (Group C) – Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Schalke, Arsenal, Zenit St. Peteresburg, Milan
Real Madrid (Group B) - Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiacos, Manchester City, Schalke, Arsenal, Zenit St. Petersburg, Milan
* – Technically, it will be the runners up “drawing” the group winners. On Monday, the runners-up will be drawn at random, one-by-one. Then, the teams eligible to be matched up with them will be put into a bowl, with one name being drawn.
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