The group-stage of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League has ended with 16 teams moving on to the knockout stage of the competition.
Out of the 32 teams that entered the competition, only 16 have moved on to the round of 16 stage. From the Premier League, defending champions Manchester City and Arsenal have qualified for the knockout stage, while Manchester United and Newcastle United have been knocked out.
The 16 teams will now be placed in a draw that will take place in Nyon, Switzerland. No team can face another side from the same nation and clubs can’t face the teams that they met during the group-stage.
The teams that topped their respective groups will be seeded while the runners-up will be unseeded. During the draw, seeded teams will be pitted against unseeded teams.
TEAMS QUALIFIED FROM EACH GROUP
Group A: Bayern Munich, FC Copenhagen
Group B: Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven
Group C: Real Madrid, Napoli
Group D: Real Sociedad, Inter Milan
Group E: Atletico Madrid, Lazio
Group F: Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain
Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig
Group H: Barcelona, Porto
TOP CONTENDERS
Manchester City
The defending champions were flawless in the group-stage, winning all six of their matches. They finished top of Group G with 18 points, scoring 18 goals while conceding just seven. They were grouped alongside Germany’s RB Leipzig, Switzerland’s BSC Young Boys and Serbia’s Crvena Zvezda.
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland is leading the goal-scoring charts in the Champions League this season, netting five goals, while Argentina’s Julian Alvaraz in second place, netting four goals for City.
The Manchester-based club won its first-ever Champions League title last season, en route to winning the historic treble. They will be looking to repeat the trick with Pep Guardiola gunning for his fourth Champions League title.
Real Madrid
The 14-time champions won all their six group-stage matches this season. They topped Group C with Italy’s Napoli, Portugal’s Braga and Germany’s Union Berlin. They accumulated all 18 points, scoring 16 goals while conceding nine.
Summer signing Jude Bellingham has taken to life at Madrid like duck to water, scoring 16 goals and providing five assists in 19 matches, with four goals and three assists coming in five Champions League matches.
Los Blancos will be aiming to add a record-extending 15th UEFA Champions League title to their massive trophy cabinet and will bank of their vast experience to achieve the feat.
TOP SCORERS
5 goals – Antoine Griezmann (Atletico de Madrid), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Rasmus Hojlund (Manchester United), Alvaro Morata (Atletico de Madrid).
4 goals – Julian Alvarez (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Evanilson (Porto), Galeno (Porto), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Lois Openda (RB Leipzig), Danylo Sikan (Shakhtar Donetsk).
When is the round of 16 draw of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League?
The draw for the round of 16 of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League starts at 4:30 PM (IST) on December 18, Monday at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Where can I watch the livestream of the round of 16 draw of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League?
The round of 16 draw will be livestreamed on UEFA’s official website or on the TNT Sports YouTube channel.
When will the round of 16 matches of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League be played?
The round of 16 matches of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League will be played on February 13, 14, 20 and 21 (first legs) and March 5, 6, 12, 13 (second legs).
