Holders Manchester City were drawn against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League last 16 draw on Monday, with the clash of last season’s runners-up Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid appearing to be the standout tie.
Pep Guardiola’s City, who won the title in Istanbul in June, will be anticipated to easily defeat the Danish side, who qualified from their group at the cost of Manchester United after defeating the Red Devils 4-3 at home.
Inter, the Serie A leaders, were one of the clubs to avoid after placing second in their group, and their game with Atletico would pit Diego Simeone, the Spanish club’s coach, against a team he played for for two years in the late 1990s.
Paris Saint-Germain, who have been eliminated in the last 16 in each of the last two seasons and in five of the last seven, were also expecting a difficult draw after finishing second in their group behind Borussia Dortmund.
They will be relieved to be drawn against Real Sociedad, who finished first in their group ahead of Inter but are playing in the Champions League last 16 for the first time since 2003/04, when they were eliminated by Lyon.
Another notable match is Barcelona’s clash with Italian champions Napoli, while Arsenal is anticipated to defeat Porto.
Bayern Munich will be heavy favourites against Lazio, while Real Madrid, the 14-time European winners, will be significantly favored versus RB Leipzig.
In the other match, Dortmund will face PSV Eindhoven, who are guided by former Borussia Dortmund manager Peter Bosz and have reached the last 16 for the first time in eight years.
The first legs will take place in mid-February with the return matches in March.
This season’s Champions League final will be staged at Wembley in London on June 1.
FULL UCL Last 16 Draws
The draw for the last 16 of this season’s UEFA Champions League, made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Monday:
FC Porto (POR) v Arsenal (ENG)
Napoli (ITA) v Barcelona (ESP)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) v Real Sociedad (ESP)
Inter Milan (ITA) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)
PSV Eindhoven (NED) v Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Lazio (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER)
FC Copenhagen (DEN) v Manchester City (ENG)
RB Leipzig (GER) v Real Madrid (ESP)
First legs to be played on February 13/14/20/21; second legs to be played on March 5/6/12/13