Champions League Round Of 16: Draw Seedings, Possible Matchups And Dates For First Knockout Round

A dramatic final round of group matches has left 16 teams still standing in the UEFA Champions League, and some big names, most notably Manchester United, left ruing what might have been. The clubs that are remaining will learn their fates in the Round of 16 in Nyon, Switzerland, next Monday, when the eight group winners will be drawn against the eight runners-up. The only provisos are that teams cannot meet those opponents they faced in the group phase or those from their own national association.

Here’s a look at the final 16.

Group winners
Real Madrid
Possible opponents: PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, Juventus, Roma, Arsenal, Dynamo Kiev, Gent
How they got here: Rafael Benitez has not had the smoothest start to life as Real Madrid manager, but the man who led Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2005 had little trouble guiding his new side through to the last 16. Their positive goal difference of 16 was the joint best, and their only dropped points came away to Paris Saint-Germain.

Wolfsburg
Possible opponents: Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Juventus, Roma, Arsenal, Dynamo Kiev, Gent
How they got here: In a dramatic final match, Wolfsburg came from behind to beat Manchester United 3-2 and not only qualify at the Premier League giants’ expense, but do so as group winners. The big prize, though, is a place in the last 16 for the first time in the Bundesliga side’s history.

Atletico Madrid
Possible opponents: Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven, Juventus, Roma, Arsenal, Dynamo Kiev, Gent
How they got here: Under Diego Simeone, Atletico have become a regular fixture in the Champions League knockout phase, having now made it for three seasons in succession. Their success was based on a defense that conceded just three goals, and a win at Benfica on the final matchday ensured they progressed as group winners.

Manchester City
Possible opponents: Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, Roma, Dynamo Kiev, Gent
How they got here: Twice Premier League champions in the last four season, Manchester City have continually underperformed in Europe, having failed to ever get past the last 16 of the Champions League. They now have a real chance to correct that this season, having topped their group for the first time, thanks to a final-matchday comeback victory against Borussia Monchengladbach.

Barcelona
Possible opponents: Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, Juventus, Arsenal, Dynamo Kiev, Gent
How they got here: The Champions League holders romped to first place in Group E, going undefeated and finishing eight points clear of runners-up Roma. That they did it without Lionel Messi for half of their matches only makes their results all the more impressive,

Bayern Munich
Possible opponents: Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, Juventus, Roma, Dynamo Kiev, Gent
How they got here: No team scored more goals than Bayern Munich in the group phase, and their average margin of victory in their five wins was close to four goals. Only a defeat at Arsenal proved a stumbling block to the Bundesliga champions, who have reached at least the semifinals of the Champions League for the last four seasons.

Chelsea
Possible opponents: Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, Juventus, Roma, Gent
How they got here: Chelsea have had a decidedly troubled season, and Jose Mourinho’s side went into the final round of fixtures with their place in the last 16 still in the balance. But they produced one of their most impressive performances of the campaign to beat Porto, top Group G and ease the pressure on their manager.

Zenit St Petersburg
Possible opponents: Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, Juventus, Roma, Arsenal
How they got here: After disappointingly exiting at the group stage a year ago, the Russian champions made no mistake in ensuring their progress this time around. Through five rounds, Andre Villas-Boas’ side were the only team with a 100 percent record. Although that was ended by a defeat by Gent, their form in Europe remains far superior to their struggling campaign at home. Zenit cannot meet Dynamo Kiev due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Runners-Up
Paris Saint-Germain
Possible opponents: Wolfsburg, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Zenit
How they hot here: French champions for the last three seasons, PSG were never in any danger of failing to make the last 16, and their record of just one goal conceded in six matches was the best in the group stage. Having finished second behind Real Madrid, they are likely to be the team that no group winners want to meet in the last 16.

PSV Eindhoven
Possible opponents: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Zenit
How they got here: Current economic realities meant PSV Eindhoven lost key pieces of their title-winning team in the summer. But Phillip Cocu’s side advanced to the last 16 for the first time in nine seasons, and at the expense of one of the richer clubs who raided them, Manchester United, thanks to a dramatic final day win over CSKA Moscow.

Benfica
Possible opponents: Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Zenit How they got here: Europa League finalists twice in the last three seasons, Benfica have been a consistent European force in recent years. But Rui Vitória’s side will be delighted they won’t have the chance to extend their fine record in Europe’s secondary competition, having finished behind Atletico Madrid to make the Champions League knockout phase for the first time in four seasons.

Juventus
Possible opponents: Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Zenit
How they got here: Losing finalists in June, Juventus safely secured another place in the knockout phase, despite overhauling their squad in the summer. But there will be plenty of frustration from manager Massimiliano Allegri that a 1-0 defeat to Sevilla on the final matchday meant they dropped to second place behind Manchester City. While a daunting last-16 matchup could now await, there won’t be any group winner enthused to see Juventus’ name drawn alongside them in the draw.

Roma
Possible opponents: Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Zenit
How they got here: The positive is that Roma have reached the Round of 16 for the first time in five seasons. Yet, with just six points, Roma were statistically the least impressive of the qualifiers. In their six matches, the Italians won just once, were defeated 6-1 by Barcelona and put their progression in jeopardy with a goalless draw at home to Bate Borisov on the final matchday. Surely an improvement will be required it they are to go any further.

Arsenal
Possible opponents: Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Zenit
How they got here: Arsenal have now reached the last 16 of the Champions League for a 16th successive season. But this time around they certainly did it the hard way. After losing their first two matches, Arsenal needed to a big win at Olympiakos on the final matchday to progress. Arsene Wenger’s side delivered with a 3-0 victory, but they again progress in second place, as they did for the past five seasons, when they were sent packing before the quarterfinals.

Dynamo Kiev
Possible opponents: Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich
How they got here: A feared team across Europe not all that long ago, Dynamo are enjoying a renaissance under one of the stars of the team that reached the semifinals of the Champions League in 1999, Sergei Rebrov. After winning the Ukrainian title last season, the former striker has now led the team to the last 16 for the first time since he was still a player, in 2000. A 1-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv clinched a spot behind Chelsea in Group G.

Gent
Possible opponents: Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea
How they got here: Undoubtedly the biggest surprise package in the Round of 16, the winners of the Belgian title for the first time last season got the better of both Valencia and Lyon, thanks to an incredible run of three straight victories to finish behind Zenit.

Dates: The first leg of the Round of 16 matches will take place on Feb. 16/17 and 23/24, with the return matches on March 8/9 and 15/16.