The Kracher lots are perfect, it could hardly have been more spectacular and difficult for the German quartet in the round of 16 of the Champions League. German record champions FC Bayern meet the Paris Saint-Germain ensemble of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé in a rematch for the 2020 final.
Cup winner RB Leipzig has to deal with English champions Manchester City with coach Pep Guardiola, Borussia Dortmund with ex-winner FC Chelsea and Europa League winner Eintracht Frankfurt with SSC Naples, which is currently outstanding in Italy.
“I’ve always said we’ll take it as it comes. Top game. Top opponent,” commented Bayern’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic on the Munich draw on TV channel Sky: “One of the best teams in the world and Europe with world stars. I’m looking forward to the games. This is a ticket that is a treat for any football fan.”
Leipzig meets Haaland, BVB meets Aubameyang
In the summer of 2020, Bayern won the final 1-0, and the Parisians had to and must continue to dream of their first major triumph in the European master class. “It’s one of the toughest opponents you can get there,” emphasized Bayern’s CEO Oliver Kahn and announced two highly attractive games, the odds in his opinion: 50:50. After losing to Villarreal in the quarter-finals last season, Bayern now face a difficult task in the first knockout round.
Like RB Leipzig in particular: After progressing in second place behind Real Madrid, the club meets with coach Marco Rose on Manchester City – and thus on top scorer Erling Haaland. His former club Dortmund will have to compete with FC Chelsea, who finished first in the group stage and will travel with two professionals who are well known in Westphalia. “We have a top team waiting for us. With (Pierre-Emerick) Aubameyang and (Christian) Pulisic we’re meeting old friends. We’re looking forward to seeing you again and of course we want to advance to the next round,” explained BVB coach Edin Terzic.
One of the best teams in Europe at the moment will be opponents of Eintracht. “Ultimately, it was also to be expected that we would face a difficult opponent,” said Frankfurt manager Markus Krösche about Napoli, the sovereign leader in Serie A: “We will do everything we can to get into the next round. I don’t think Naples so super happy to get us.”
All round of 16 matches:
RB Leipzig – Manchester City
Club Brugge – Benfica Lisbon
Liverpool FC – Real Madrid
AC Milan – Tottenham Hotspur
Eintracht Frankfurt – SSC Napoli
Borussia Dortmund – Chelsea
Inter Milan – FC Porto
Paris Saint Germain – Bayern Munich
The first legs will take place on February 14, 15, 21 and 22. The second legs are on March 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th.