Liverpool and Arsenal’s Champions League draw becomes clearer in update | Football | Sport
The clubs that have secured their place in the Round of 16 stage of the Champions League are edging closer to learning their upcoming adversaries following the opening fixtures of the play-offs. Sixteen sides battled across Tuesday and Wednesday evening for a place in the next round of the competition, including Newcastle, the sole Premier League outfit that failed to automatically secure their last-16 place.
Eddie Howe’s squad will almost certainly progress, however, after recording the most emphatic victory of the matchweek against Qarabag. The Magpies demolished their rivals 6-1 to establish an insurmountable advantage ahead of next week’s second leg at St James’ Park. They are already aware that their prize for advancing will be a meeting with either Barcelona or Chelsea.
And whilst it may be premature to begin finalising any definite arrangements ahead of next week’s return leg encounters, some have a clearer picture of what awaits them.
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Arsenal, for instance, are aware they will face one of Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Olympiacos or Bayer Leverkusen. Following the first leg matches, Dortmund and Leverkusen are best positioned to progress after securing their respective fixtures 2-0.
Liverpool and Spurs are set to face the winners of the Galatasaray vs Juventus and Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid matches. The Turkish titans trounced Juventus 5-2 ahead of next week’s crucial tie in Turin, whilst Brugge and Atletico are evenly matched following a 3-3 thriller.
Manchester City could potentially meet Real Madrid in the subsequent round after they triumphed over Benfica 1-0 away in a match that was marred by the alleged racist abuse Vinicius Junior endured. Bodo/Glimt and Inter Milan are their other possible rivals, with Bodo carrying a 3-1 aggregate advantage to the Italian capital.
