The group phase of the Champions League group stage has come to an end, shifting the focus to the impending knockout rounds.
Experiencing a disappointing campaign, Manchester United emerged as the most notable casualties, concluding the initial phase at the bottom of Group A under the management of Erik ten Hag.
On the contrary, defending champions Manchester City secured their spot in the last-16 with a round to spare. Joining them in the knockout stages is Arsenal, marking their return to this phase for the first time since 2017.
There is still a possibility for Newcastle to advance, but Eddie Howe’s squad must secure a victory against AC Milan tonight and rely on favorable outcomes in other matches to escape the challenges of the formidable ‘group of death.’
Although English teams are barred from facing each other in the last-16, the draw for the new year promises some enthralling matchups. Here’s a comprehensive overview of what you need to know.
When is the Champions League last-16 draw?
The draw will take place on Monday 18 December. It will start from 11am GMT and will take place in Nyon, Switzerland.
Who is through to the last-16?
Confirmed as group winners:
Manchester City
Bayern Munich
Arsenal
Real Sociedad
Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid
Barcelona
Borussia Dortmund
Confirmed as runners-up:
RB Leipzig
PSV Eindhoven
FC Copenhagen
Napoli
Inter Milan
Lazio
Paris Saint-Germain
Porto
What are the rules of the draw?
The group winners and seeded and will be drawn against one of the eight runners-up. Teams from the same countries cannot play each other in the last-16, and you cannot be drawn against a team you’ve already played in the group stages. The group winners will be at home for the second leg.
What will the last-16 fixtures take place?
First legs: 13/14/20/21 February 2024
Second legs: 5/6/12/13 March 2024
When is the draw for the quarter-finals?
The quarter-final, and semi-final, draw will take place on Friday 15 March 2024.
