PSG Drift for 2021-22 Champions League After Drawing Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain handed difficult Champions League last sixteen draw after being paired with Real Madrid, while Atletico Madrid clash with Manchester United

Monday 13 December 2021 will go down as the day that UEFA messed up the Champions League last sixteen draw. After getting their maths wrong, the governing body were forced to go again when it came to drawing the qualified teams although we now have eight fixtures to anticipate when it gets to February 2022.

PSG Handed Tricky Real Madrid Clash

Paris Saint-Germain were always likely to be given a tough opponent considering that they finished second behind Manchester City at the group stage. The French side were one of the favourites on the Champions League outright market after signing Lionel Messi, although they’re now trading at double figure odds with the majority of the bookies.

While PSG are marginal favourites to qualify for the quarter final stage, it wouldn’t be a big shock to see Mauricio Pochettino’s side toppled by a Real Madrid side who topped their section and also lead the way at the top of Spanish La Liga.

Manchester United Meet Atletico Madrid

Ralf Rangnick will feel a bit hard done by after the last sixteen draw pitted the Red Devils against Atletico Madrid, although the original tie had them up against PSG so it’s swings and roundabouts in that respect.

Manchester United are certainly not purring since Rangnick took interim charge at Old Trafford and it will be interesting to see whether they can negotiate two legs against an Atleti side who finished second behind Liverpool although they were beaten home and away against their English opponents.

Chelsea, City and Liverpool Handed Favourable UCL Draw

Chelsea were pitted against Lille in the original tie and got the French champions when the redraw took place. While Thomas Tuchel’s side will be wary against opponents who topped their section, this is a fairly favourable draw considering that one of the European big hitters could easily have come out in the wash.

Meanwhile, Manchester City are overwhelming betting favourites to get the better of Sporting at the Etihad Stadium, with Pep Guardiola’s side continuing to hunt that elusive first Champions League crown. They are now favourites on the outright market and look like the team most likely to be in the quarter finals.

Liverpool were initially handed a tie against Salzburg and that has since been upgraded to Inter. This is clearly not an easy tie for the Reds against a team who finished champions of Italy last season, although Jurgen Klopp’s side recently visited the San Siro and beat Milan.

Bayern Munich Might Take Some Stopping

Bayern cruised through the group stage, finishing well clear of Benfica and Barcelona in the process. The Bavarian side flexed their attacking muscle to score 22 goals in the process and they have to be regarded as major contenders. However, there is a lack of squad depth in the ranks and perhaps Julian Nagelsmann’s side will be vulnerable at the latter stages.

Ajax and Benfica clash in one of the other last sixteen encounters and the Dutch side might have the edge over their Portuguese opponents, while Juventus go up against Villarreal and will be confident of overcoming last season’s Europa League winners.

Check out the draw and further details on the official UEFA Champions League website.

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