December 13 – There is no question about the match-up of the round following the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League – but it wasn’t the original tie!
Because of a hugely embarrassing procedural gaffe by UEFA, the entire process in its flagship competition was declared null and void and had to be redrawn two hours later.
Coincidentally, after being paired with Manchester United first time round when Lionel Messi would have come against Cristiano Ronaldo, Paris St Germain again featured in the most mouth-watering tie.
Only it will be against Real Madrid rather than United.
UEFA had earlier blamed a “material error” due to a “technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other.”
With the draw being streamed live from UEFA’s headquarters in Switzerland, the problem was made evident when Manchester United’s name was drawn to face Villarreal, despite the fact the two clubs were not allowed to play each other having been in the same qualifying group. Further confusion appeared to occur when United were excluded from the pot of possible opponents for Atletico Madrid.
Real, 13-time European champions, are unlikely to be happy with the new draw since they had initially been paired with Benfica. But nor will Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG who have never won the competition.
Liverpool will also be disappointed. Having initially been drawn against knockout-phase debutants Red Bull Salzburg of Austria, they now face three-time former winners Inter, Serie A champions and current Italian league leaders.
Salzburg instead were drawn with Bayern Munich, while Manchester City take on Sporting Lisbon, Benfica will play Ajax and Villarreal face Juventus. Manchester United, after originally getting PSG, will now face Atletico Madrid
One team who won’t mind a jot about the redraw are defending champions Chelsea who got lucky not once but twice after being paired both times with Lille. Chelsea could have faced Bayern or Ajax and will have been relieved to have been drawn to play the French champions.
The first legs will be spread out over February 15-16, and February 22-23, with the second legs March 8-9, and March15-16.
A major change sees the away goals rule removed so ties level after 180 minutes will go to extra time.
Champions League last-16 revised draw:
Red Bull Salzburg v Bayern Munich
Sporting Lisbon v Manchester City
Benfica v Ajax
Chelsea v Lille
Atletico Madrid v Manchester United
Villarreal v Juventus
Inter Milan v Liverpool
PSG v Real Madrid
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