Plenty of fans in the wider world of football had wondered what kind of impact UEFA’s newly revamped Champion League format would have and the kind of entertainment that it would bring to the pitch, and in what was the old ‘Group stage’, the 2024/25 edition certainly lived up to its billing with a host of unexpected results and shocks at play.
Liverpool ran away with top spot, and Aston Villa automatically qualified for the knockout stages at the first time of asking, but the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid all failed to get into the top eight, and required the Play Off route to decide their own fates. As any online casino gamer will know, you never want to push your luck so far that you need a final bite of the cherry, and that is true for most games particularly Online roulette real money types, and that just simply means you stick to your plan and know your limits.
With Play Off questions now answered, on Friday the draw was held for the Round of 16 stage, and it has again thrown up some intriguing ties. Current Premier League leaders Liverpool will face French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal face Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven and Aston Villa’s journey continues with Belgian Pro League side Club Brugge KV.
There are a couple of inter country rival ties as well. With Real Madrid knocking out Manchester City in the Play Off phase, they will now face locals Atletico Madrid in an all Spanish affair, and there is an all German affair as well with Bayern Munich facing off against Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool fans will be hoping for a bit of deja vu in their draw against PSG, as the last time they faced them in Europe was the 2018/19 campaign and the history buffs will know the Anfield outfit went on to lift their sixth European title as champions that year.
With the two legged Last 16 ties now known, the quarter final stages were also set. The winner of the Liverpool v PSG tie will face either Aston Villa or Club Brugge. Should Arsenal get past PSV, they will face 15 time winners Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the last eight.
Full draw:
Paris St-Germain v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid
Feyenoord v Inter Milan
Borussia Dortmund v Lille
Club Brugge v Aston Villa
PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal
Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen
Benfica v Barcelona
With Aston Villa and Liverpool recently playing out a scintillating 2-2 draw at Villa Park in their Premier League clash, for neutrals they would certainly appreciate a re-run of that entertaining affair in the last eight stage, and it is, of course, only one potential tie of many that could include fireworks.
Given how the tournament has played out so far, it is probably a safe educated guess to assume that there will be a few more twists and turns, and probably a shock or two, before we get to the showpiece final once again.
For fans of those clubs still involved they will have their own hopes and fears for what lies ahead, for those who support other colours and badges they will simply sit back and enjoy the action that unfolds.
