UCL Draw: Liverpool Face Bayern As Man United Set For Tough PSG Test
17th December 2018
Holders Real Madrid were paired with Ajax in Monday's draw in Nyon as the Spaniards attempt to lift the trophy for the fifth time in six seasons, while Lionel Messi and Barcelona will play Lyon
- Liverpool will take on fellow five-time winners Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Jose Mourinho's struggling Manchester United face French giants Paris Saint-Germain
- Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund will meet Tottenham Hotspur for the second season in a row, having faced each other in last year's group stage, while Roma meet two-time former champions Porto
- Teams that finished in second place in the group stage will host the first legs on February 12/13 and 19/20 with the return matches scheduled for March 5/6 and 12/13
NYON, Switzerland-
Liverpool will take on fellow five-time winners Bayern Munich in the last 16 of
the Champions League, while Jose Mourinho's struggling Manchester United face
French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
Holders Real Madrid were paired with Ajax in Monday's draw
in Nyon as the Spaniards attempt to lift the trophy for the fifth time in six
seasons, while Lionel Messi and Barcelona will play Lyon.
Both Liverpool and Bayern have a rich tradition in the
competition, each winning it five times and Liverpool were beaten finalists
last season.
Liverpool are the current form side of the two and sit top
of the Premier League while Bayern, under new coach Niko Kovac, have been far
short of their own high standards in the Bundesliga this season.
"That's the team of the hour, the league leaders in
England, they are playing really good football, very physical, really stepping
it up. We are looking forward to it," Bayern sporting director Hasan
Salihamidzic said of the tie with Liverpool.
"A tough cookie, but that's something to look forward
to as a player."
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City take on German side Schalke
04 while Atletico Madrid, beaten finalists in 2014 and 2016, come up against
Cristiano Ronaldo and Italian heavyweights Juventus.
"A very difficult match, with few goals," Juve
vice-president Pavel Nedved predicted.
"No doubt Cristiano is the man of the Champions League,
he has always shown that, with goals and victories. Our team is very strong and
we can be calm and confident."
Formidable task
Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund will meet Tottenham
Hotspur for the second season in a row, having faced each other in last year's
group stage, while Roma meet two-time former champions Porto.
"We've already met them (Tottenham) twice. A strong
opponent, the chances are at 50-50. The team has top players. We are also
strong, it will be interesting," Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told
Sky.
Meanwhile, United go into a first ever meeting with PSG
trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by 19 points following Sunday's 3-1
defeat at Anfield, and face a formidable task against a side featuring Neymar
and Kylian Mbappe -- the world's two most expensive players.
Lyon coach Bruno Genesio says his team can draw on their
group stage displays against City -- a 2-1 win and 2-2 draw -- ahead of their
clash with five-time European champions Barca.
"We'll need to pull off two big performances, in the
first leg and in the return, but we can do it. We did it against City,"
said Genesio.
"It's tough. They are a team that Lyon has already played
against but never beaten. Barca are more experienced and stronger but over two
matches anything is possible," Gerard Houllier, who holds an advisory role
at the French club, told RMC Sport.
"The first match is key and we are playing at home.
Barca are potential champions. We have nothing to lose. Everything is a bonus
for Lyon."
Teams that finished in second place in the group stage will host the first legs on February 12/13 and 19/20 with the return matches scheduled for March 5/6 and 12/13.
Full UEFA Champions
League Draw:
Schalke 04 v Manchester City
Atletico Madrid v Juventus
Manchester United v Paris Saint-Germain
Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund
Lyon v Barcelona
Roma v Porto
Ajax v Real Madrid
Liverpool v Bayern Munich