Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will go toe-to-toe in the last 16 of the Champions League after Manchester United were drawn against PSG on Monday. Both players, who have won this competition a combined nine times, moved clubs this summer and will now collide in the first knockout stage of Europe’s most prestigious competition.
Ralf Rangnick’s United, who won Group F with a game to spare thanks to a whole host of Ronaldo goals will take on the French league leaders for a place in the quarter-finals and given the German boss has two months to work with his side ahead of this tie, United fans will hope for a big improvement on what they have seen so far, as the players grow accustomed to his style.
However, there was a slight error in the draw as originally United were drawn away at Villarreal, the team they faced twice in Group F. This led to another ball being redrawn which was Manchester City, while United were left to face Lionel Messi and co.
Pep Guardiola’s men have already proven that this PSG team, with Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe up front are beatable as they overcame them at the Etihad in the group stages, while Rangnick’s pressing style is sure to cause the Parisians problems. But the 2021 Ballon d’Or winner is coming to Old Trafford to take on his old rival, while perhaps this will be an audition for Mauricio Pochettino to take the Manchester United job in the summer.
Meanwhile Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who won six out of six in their ‘group of death’, scoring 17 goals along the way, will take on FC Salzburg, who finished second behind Lille in Group G.
The late goal Chelsea conceded against Zenit St Petersburg cost them top spot and as a result they will face Lille while group winners Juventus have been handed a tie against Sporting CP. One of the standout ties of the last 16 comes as Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid face 2020 winners Bayern Munich, as two European giants collide. Elsewhere, two former winners also meet in the last sixteen as the other club to enjoy a perfect group stage, AFC Ajax, will meet Inter Milan, who won this competition under Jose Mourinho in 2010.
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Of course this year in the knockout stages there will be no away goals for the first time, which could lead to a change in style for those sides playing away from home. The first legs will take place on the 15th/16th February 2022.
Benfica vs Real Madrid
Villarreal vs Manchester City
Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Munich
FC Salzburg vs Liverpool
Inter Milan vs Ajax
Sporting CP vs Juventus
Chelsea vs Lille
PSG vs Manchester United
