This is the charm of this draw awaited by the fans of the 16 teams qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League. The clubs will be fixed this Monday noon and after it will take two months for PSG like the other clubs before playing the first leg.
After finishing second in their group, PSG got into the hard work for this draw since they will face a group first (a seed). We find in the hat (by removing Lille and Manchester City that Paris can not face for the eighth) two English clubs (Liverpool and Manchester United), a Spanish (Real Madrid), a German club (Bayern Munich), an Italian (Juventus Turin) and a Dutch team (Ajax Amsterdam).
Real Madrid, future opponent?
In a draw, there is an element of chance but also of probability. Some have already embarked on scholarly calculations to find out against whom the PSG is most likely to fall. And it is an old acquaintance who comes out of the hat of probabilities: Real Madrid (19.36%). The Madrid house does not necessarily shine with a thousand lights this season and on paper PSG would not be unhappy to fall against the team of its former coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
Because let’s be honest, in view of the forms of the moment, it is absolutely necessary that the PSG avoid Liverpool (17.86%) and Bayern Munich (13.53%). On the other hand, Juventus Turin (17.86%), Manchester United (17.86%) or Ajax Amsterdam (13.53%) seem opponents who do not necessarily want to cross the road of PSG from the round of 16.
The draw takes place this afternoon in Nyons, Switzerland. Uefa reminds that the seeds will play the second leg at home and that the away goal rule will no longer be the criterion to decide between them and qualification will be played on extra time and possible penalties. The date of the meetings: first leg, 15-16 or 22-23 February and second leg, 8-9 or 15-16 March.