Harry Diamond
The three remaining Premier League clubs have learned their opponents for the Champions League’s first knockout round, following the draw for the competition’s last 16.
English champions Liverpool have been handed a tricky assignment after being paired with RB Leipzig, who reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last season before progressing from a group containing both Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United this time around.
Leipzig secured their passage courtesy of an entertaining 3-2 victory over United last week and the clash will see Jurgen Klopp come up against compatriot Julian Nagelsmann, the 33-year-old amongst the most highly-rated young coaches in world football.
Chelsea also face a tough test to reach the quarter-finals after drawing Atletico Madrid, with the Spanish side in title contention after making an unbeaten start to the league season under Diego Simeone.
Atletico reached the final of the Champions League in both 2014 and 2016 and have often proven stubborn opposition, eliminating Liverpool at the same stage of last season’s competition.
Manchester City will be confident of reaching the last eight for a fourth consecutive campaign after being drawn to face Borussia Mönchengladbach, though will be wary of the threat they pose. The Bundesliga outfit impressed in qualifying from a difficult group containing Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk and Inter Milan.
Elsewhere Paris Saint-Germain face Barcelona in arguably the pick of the ties, whilst holders Bayern Munich meet Lazio, the latter having returned to the Champions League for the first time in more than a decade this season.
UEFA Champions League last-16 draw in full:
Borussia Monchengladbach v Manchester City
Lazio v Bayern Munich
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
RB Leipzig v Liverpool
Porto v Juventus
Barcelona v PSG
Sevilla v Borussia Dortmund
Atalanta v Real Madrid
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