16 teams in the 1/8 Champions League round
Spain and England both preserve their forces, as each country has four teams that qualify for the Champions League group stage.
The Champions League group stage closed on the evening of December 11, with eight leading teams each: Barca, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Leipzig, Liverpool, Man City, PSG and Valencia. Eight second-placed teams also followed in the eighth round: Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Lyon, Napoli, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Tottenham.
16 teams from five countries, also the five most powerful football backgrounds in Europe. In particular, the United Kingdom and Spain have four representatives from each country. Meanwhile, Germany and Italy have three teams, and France are two teams.
The rule of the draw for the 1/8 round is the teams in the first group meet the second group. In addition, teams from the same country, or each competing in the group stage, will not be able to meet.
Accordingly, Real is the team most at risk. The five opponents they could face: Juventus, Bayern, Leipzig, Liverpool and Man City. Barca can touch Atalanta, Chelsea, Lyon, Napoli and Tottenham. Meanwhile, potential rivals Liverpool are Real, Atalanta, Atletico, Dortmund, Lyon.
The draw will take place on Monday 16/12. The series of matches played on February 18, February 19 and February 25, February 26, 2020. The second round takes place on 10/3, 11/3 and 17/3, 18/3.
“We will eliminate Liverpool”
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said half jokingly about the possibility of meeting Liverpool in the 1/8 Champions League round.
When asked about his ability to meet Liverpool, Zidane smiled and replied: “If we play with Liverpool, we will eliminate them. What else can we do with the lottery?”
Liverpool is one of five teams capable of meeting Real in the 1/8 round of the Champions League, alongside Bayern, Juventus, Man City and Leipzig. Of these, Leipzig is the team considered “easier” than for the former champion.
In the Champions League this season, Real is progressing slowly after a bad start. From losing to PSG 0-3 and drawing Brugge 2-2, they could win second place in Group A and tickets to the 1/8 round. In the last match, on the field of Brugge, Real won 3-1.
The victory of Brugge 3-1 also recorded Luka Jovic the rare starting kick, replacing Karim Benzema. The new Serbian rookie has only one goal and has not completely adapted to Real.