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Champions League draw in full and Team-by-team guide

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Real Madrid face off against Paris Saint-Germain in the pick of the last-16 Champions League ties.

Four Premier League clubs – Manchester City, United, Liverpool and Tottenham – topped their groups, with most getting generous draws for this stage of the competition.

Tottenham take on Juventus, but City, United and Liverpool will all be pretty pleased with their ties.

Chelsea dropped to the runners up spot on the final matchday, leaving them fearing a nightmare draw – which they were handed as they take on Barcelona.

There is a bit of a wait before the last 16 ties are played, with the first legs not taking place until February 13, 14, 20 and 21.

Second legs will take place either on March 6, 7, 13 or 14, with exact dates for each tie to be confirmed in due course.

Manchester United were paired with Sevilla (Image: AFP)
Chelsea will lock horns with Barcelona (Image: AFP)
The prize everyone is after this season (Image: AFP)

Champions League draw in full

  • Juventus vs Tottenham Hotspur
  • FC Basel vs Manchester City
  • Porto vs Liverpool
  • Sevilla vs Manchester United
  • Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain
  • Shakhtar Donetsk vs Roma
  • Chelsea vs Barcelona
  • Bayern Munich vs Besiktas

When are the ties being played?

Juventus vs Tottenham
February 13 and March 7

Basel vs Manchester City
February 13 and March 7

Porto vs Liverpool
February 14 and March 6

Real Madrid vs PSG
February 14 and March 6

Chelsea vs Barcelona
February 20 and March 14

Bayern Munich vs Besiktas
February 20 and March 14

Sevilla v Manchester United
February 21 and March 13

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Roma
February 21 and March 13

Champions League team-by-team guide

BARCELONA

Barcelona cruised to victory in their group (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Coach: Ernesto Valverde

Star man: Lionel Messi

Champions League/European Cup best: Winners 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015

The LaLiga leaders have shrugged off the loss of Neymar this season and came through Group D unbeaten to top the group above Juventus. They will be top of the list of teams to avoid in the last 16.

BESIKTAS

Besiktas have been one of the more impressive teams this season (Image: 2017 Getty Images)

Coach: Senol Gunes

Star man: Cenk Tosun

Champions League/European Cup best: Quarter-finals 1987

Although they topped a relatively weak Group G ahead of Porto, the reigning Turkish champions have suffered indifferent form this season and sit fifth in the Super Lig table. Few clubs ever fancy an away trip to Istanbul, but there are far tougher teams you could pull out of the hat.

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LIVERPOOL

Liverpool have scored plenty of goals (Image: Getty)

Coach: Jurgen Klopp

Star man: Mohamed Salah

Champions League/European Cup best: Winners 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005

Liverpool romped to first place in Group E, scoring 23 goals as they ran up the score in big wins over Sevilla and Maribor. With an attacking unit including Salah, Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino there is no end of goals in this team, but their defensive vulnerabilities remain and may well be exposed as the standard of competition ramps up.

MANCHESTER CITY

City won their first five group games (Image: Manchester City FC)

Coach: Pep Guardiola

Star man: Kevin De Bruyne

Champions League/European Cup best: Semi-finals 2016

Guardiola’s team have been widely hailed as the best in Europe after a swashbuckling start to the Premier League season, and they cruised through Group F, winning their first five games before fielding a much-changed side away to Shakhtar Donetsk. But converting plaudits into silverware is the task ahead, and these relative Champions League novices still have plenty to prove.

MANCHESTER UNITED

United are hoping to return to their former glories (Image: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Coach: Jose Mourinho

Star man: Paul Pogba

Champions League/European Cup best: Winners 1968, 1999, 2008

Mourinho’s men topped Group A with a mixture of silk and steel as they averaged two goals a game but conceded only three in all six outings. Key summer signing Nemanja Matic has added the missing teeth to United’s midfield to go with the goal threat of Romelu Lukaku and the fit-again Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and few teams will fancy taking them on.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Neymar is PSG’s star man (Image: Bongarts)

Coach: Unai Emery

Star man: Neymar

Champions League/European Cup best: Semi-finals 1995

Paris St Germain have made little secret of the fact the Champions League is their number one priority, and with Ligue 1 appearing to take care of itself – they top the table by nine points – they will go all in. World-record signing Neymar has elevated their game considerably, but Edinson Cavani is keeping up in the scoring rates and they look extremely dangerous.

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ROMA

Roma pipped Chelsea to the top of their group (Image: AFP)

Coach: Eusebio Di Francesco

Star man: Edin Dzeko

Champions League/European Cup best: Runners-up 1984

With Edin Dzeko in the form of his life – the 31-year-old earned a Ballon d’Or nomination this year – Roma managed to edge out Chelsea to top Group C. They are far from the full package, but as Chelsea will attest from their 3-0 hiding in the Italian capital, they should not be underestimated.

TOTTENHAM

Spurs have impressed in the Champions League this season (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Coach: Mauricio Pochettino

Star man: Harry Kane

Champions League/European Cup best: Semi-finals 1962

They may be struggling to match recent form in the Premier League, but Tottenham are having another coming-of-age season in the Champions League. Their 3-1 win over Real Madrid at Wembley felt like a huge moment, and it is a big achievement to top a group boasting both the current holders and Borussia Dortmund. Just how far can they go?

BASEL

Basel are celebrating qualifying for the last 16 (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Coach: Raphael Wicky

Star man: Dmitri Oberlin

Champions League/European Cup best: Quarter-finals 1974

Basel impressed as they finished runners-up to Manchester United in Group A, beating Jose Mourinho’s side at home and putting five past Benfica. In Oberlin, the 20-year-old striker on loan from Red Bull Salzburg, they have one of the hottest young properties in European football.

BAYERN MUNICH

Bayern are feared opponents for anyone (Image: Bongarts)

Coach: Jupp Heynckes

Star man: Robert Lewandowski

Champions League/European Cup best: Winners 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001, 2013

After a slow start to the season Bayern are humming once more under Heynckes, the man who masterminded their last Champions League triumph in 2013. They could only finish runners-up in Group B behind Paris St Germain, but won five of their six group stage matches.

CHELSEA

Chelsea slumped to second in their group (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Coach: Antonio Conte

Star man: Eden Hazard

Champions League/European Cup best: Winners 2012

With their Premier League title defence faltering, Conte could be tempted to go all in on the Champions League. That said, after finishing runners-up in Group C, they can only be paired with one of Paris St Germain, Barcelona and Besiktas in the last 16, so the task here may be very difficult too.

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JUVENTUS

Buffon is Juve’s star man (Image: REUTERS)

Coach: Massimiliano Allegri

Star man: Gianluigi Buffon

Champions League/European Cup best: Winners 1985, 1996

With Gianluigi Buffon seeking a fairytale ending to his career after three times suffering defeat in the Champions League final, Juve are once again leaning heavily on their defence. They kept clean sheets in three of their six group stage matches, including a goalless draw with group winners Barcelona.

PORTO

Porto are back in the last 16 (Image: AFP)

Coach: Sergio Conceicao

Star man: Vincent Aboubakar

Champions League/European Cup best: Winners 1987, 2004

Porto might be the kindest draw any of the group winners could hope for in the last 16. Runners-up in a weak Group G, they conceded almost two goals a game, and though striker Aboubakar has been in good form, they do not appear to have the weapons to go much further.

REAL MADRID

Real Madrid are gunning for a third consecutive trophy (Image: REUTERS)

Coach: Zinedine Zidane

Star man: Cristiano Ronaldo

Champions League/European Cup best: Winners 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017

The back-to-back winners made a slow start to the season – made clear by the fact they remain fourth in LaLiga – but found their mojo in the Champions League, even if they had to settle for runners-up spot behind Tottenham in Group H. Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo scored nine goals in the six group matches and they remain as dangerous as they come.

SEVILLA

Sevilla are back in the last 16 once again (Image: Reuters)

Coach: Eduardo Berizzo

Star man: Wissam Ben Yedder

Champions League/European Cup best: Quarter-finals 1958

Sevilla won only two of their Group E fixtures but got through on the back of being hard to beat – all except for the complete aberration which was their 5-1 loss to Spartak Moscow in October. That exposed their key weakness – although they can score plenty, they struggle to keep the back door closed, and kept just one clean sheet against lowly Maribor.

SHAKHTAR DONETSK

Shakhtar are one of the surprise teams in the last 16 (Image: AFP PHOTO / Stanislas VEDMIDSTANISLAS VEDMID/AFP/Getty Images)

Coach: Paulo Fonseca

Star man: Bernard

Champions League/European Cup best: Quarter-finals 2011

Manchester City were always favourites in Group F but Napoli were supposed to follow them through. Shakhtar had other ideas and immediately tore up the script by beating the Italians in their opening match. By the time they wrapped up the group by beating a much-changed City side, Fonseca had to fulfil a promise to turn up to his press conference dressed as Zorro.

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Osimhen Crowned 2023 CAF Footballer of the Year

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Victor Osimhen has been named the 2023 African Footballer of the Year, cementing his status as one of the world’s top players.

Osimhen surpassed competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah for the prestigious award.

The Super Eagles forward concluded a remarkable year in the imperial Moroccan city of Marakesh, ending Nigeria’s 24-year wait for Africa’s top individual prize, last won by legendary Kanu Nwankwo in 1999.

During the event, Osimhen expressed gratitude, acknowledging the impact of Nigerian legend Emmanuel Amuneke, who coached him at the U-17 level, and the support from fans and fellow players.

“It’s a dream come true for me. I want to thank everyone who has seen me through life’s journey, in achieving my dreams and goals. I appreciate Nigerians and Africa for their unwavering support and encouragement,” he said.

Osimhen recognised the influence of Emmanuel Adebayo, Solomon Kalu, and other African legends, expressing gratitude to his role model, Didier Drogba.

The award reflects Osimhen’s outstanding performances with Napoli, where he played a pivotal role in their Serie A title run, scoring 26 league goals and becoming the first African to win the top scorer award, breaking George Weah’s record in the Italian top-flight.”

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Lionel Messi Secures Historic 8th Ballon d’Or Triumph

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Lionel Messi, the renowned Argentine football icon, clinched the coveted 2023 Ballon d’Or, setting a new record for the 2022 World Cup champion.

In a glamorous event held in Paris, Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami, received the prestigious award on Monday night. This achievement is widely seen as a well-deserved recognition for his pivotal role in guiding the Abiscelete to World Cup victory in the previous year.

Aged 36, Messi succeeded Karim Benzema as the recipient of this award, which acknowledges his exceptional performances during the last season when he inspired Argentina to triumph at the World Cup.

His remarkable displays in Qatar, where he led his nation to a historic victory, enabled him to surpass strong competition, notably from Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. Haaland secured the second spot in the final voting, with Mbappe finishing third and Kevin De Bruyne taking fourth place.

Messi, a former Barcelona superstar, left an indelible mark at the World Cup, scoring seven crucial goals. His exceptional performance led to him being named the tournament’s best player, especially after Argentina’s victory over France in the final.

While Messi’s World Cup heroics were undeniable, his final season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) was relatively lackluster. Subsequently, he made a move to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

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His former PSG teammate, Mbappe, made a strong case for the Ballon d’Or with his outstanding World Cup performance, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, including a memorable hat-trick in the final for France.

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland had a remarkable season, scoring an incredible 52 goals in 53 games for Manchester City. This stellar performance played a pivotal role in helping Pep Guardiola’s team secure a historic treble in the English Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.

Both Haaland and De Bruyne were nominated for the Ballon d’Or from their exceptional contributions to the success of Manchester City.

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“B Sample Reveals Presence of Testosterone in Pogba’s Test Results”

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Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba’s ‘B’ sample has confirmed the presence of testosterone, a source close to the case told AFP on Friday.

The 30-year-old former Manchester United player, a World Cup winner in 2018, faces a ban of up to four years.

The original test by the Italian anti-doping agency (Nado) showed the presence of testosterone metabolites.

On Friday, Pogba learned that the analysis of his B sample, carried out on the previous day, had produced the same result.

The player’s entourage declined to comment.

Under the World Anti-Doping Code, Pogba is liable to a four-year suspension, which could be halved if he proves that he was not at fault.

The ban could even be limited to a few months if the use of the substance took place “out of competition and is not related to his level of performance”.

Pogba’s representatives said last month that the testosterone came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States.

Testosterone promotes muscle development.

Contacted by AFP, Nado was unable to confirm this information “due to a decision by the Italian privacy authority”.

Pogba has seven days to submit his defence to Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal, which will investigate his case and request a sanction, a process that could take several weeks.

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In addition to the proceedings of the Italian sports justice system, a judicial investigation will be opened by the Turin public prosecutor’s office, as doping is a criminal offence in Italy.

Since the announcement of his positive test, Pogba has been unable to train with Juventus, the club to which he returned in July 2022 after six seasons with United.

The announcement came shortly before Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri’s press conference on the eve of the Turin derby against Torino, at which he simply said he was “sorry for Paul”.

Contacted by AFP, the club, which has also suspended payment of his estimated annual salary of 8 million euros (8.4 million dollars), did not respond.

Pogba started the season attempting to bounce back from string of injuries last season and from summer surgery.

His sample was reportedly taken at his club’s opening match of the Serie A season, a win at Udinese on August 20, during which he was an unused substitute.

After the first sample tested positive on September 11,  Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta said she was “awaiting the second sample and cannot have an opinion before the results”.

“What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule,” she added.

 

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