The draw for the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League for the 2023/2024 season took place at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, on Monday afternoon. Barcelona, the La Liga champions, will face Napoli, the Serie A champions, in a challenging match for the Catalan team, which has not been performing at its best lately, as well as for Napoli, which has been struggling this season. This matchup remains risky for coach Xavi Hernandez's men.
The draw favored Paris Saint-Germain this time, as they were matched against Real Sociedad, while Real Madrid faces Leipzig in what appears to be a favorable matchup for the royal team on paper. The easiest draw went to Manchester City, who will play Copenhagen, a matchup that seems predictable in favor of Pep Guardiola’s players. Bayern Munich will face Lazio, in a match that looks straightforward for the Bavarian team.
The other matchups are relatively balanced, with Inter Milan, the runner-up, meeting Atletico Madrid, and Arsenal, the Premier League runner-up, facing Porto. Eindhoven will also compete against Borussia Dortmund.
The first leg matches will take place on the home grounds of Porto, Napoli, Paris, Inter Milan, Eindhoven, Lazio, Copenhagen, and Leipzig, while the second leg matches will be held at the opponents’ venues. The first leg matches are scheduled for February 13, 14, 20, and 21, 2024, while the second leg matches will take place on March 5, 6, 12, and 13.
