2023-12-14 01:50:41
The group stage has barely finished, and it’s already time for the round of 16. This Wednesday evening, the veil fell on the first phase of the 2023-2024 Champions League with the qualifications of Paris Saint-Germain and FC Porto. On Monday, the draw at the start of the round of 16 will launch the knockout phase, long awaited by football fans.
Now that all the players in these 8th rounds are known, the teams have been divided into two hats. Thus, the first group (Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and FC Barcelona) will not be able to meet in the next round. Each of these teams will face a second group (FC Copenhagen, PSV Eindhoven, Naples, Inter Milan, Lazio, PSG, Leipzig and Porto), knowing that two teams from the same country or from the same group cannot meet from the round of 16.
For PSG, it is therefore a great European player who will have to be eliminated to continue dreaming of a first Champions League title. The most favorable draw would undoubtedly be Real Sociedad, surprising group winner, who dominated last edition’s finalist, Inter Milan. FC Barcelona, surprisingly mishandled and beaten by Antwerp this Wednesday (3-2), could also be an opponent of the Parisians. FC Porto, which won against Shakhtar Donetsk (5-3), takes second place in the same group.
The suspense was less intense in the other groups, with Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Manchester City and Leipzig already qualified. Winners against the Romans in the duel between the two qualifiers (2-0), the Madrilenians nevertheless took first place in the group. The Citizens confirmed their faultless performance in this first round by dominating Red Star Belgrade on their lawn (2-3). Winner against Young Boys Bern (2-1), Leipzig finished second.
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