The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 edition has reached the round of 16 stages, with half of them finalised after the knockout phase playoffs that ended on February 19.
The fixtures will be confirmed at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
This season’s Champions League is being played under a new format, wherein the group stages have been replaced by the league phase, with the top eight qualifying directly for RO16.
The defending champion, Real Madrid, is not one of those eight teams that had directly sealed its spot in the pre-quarterfinals after finishing the third in the league table.
Los Blancos reached the top 16 after a 6-3 aggregate win over Manchester City in the knockout phase playoff tie after finishing 11th.
The fixtures in the pre-quarterfinals are primarily determined by a club’s final position in the league standings.
Which teams have qualified for the Champions League round of 16?
- England: Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa
- Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid
- France: Paris Saint-Germain, Lille
- Germany: Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund
- Italy: Inter Milan
- Netherlands: PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord
- Portugal: Benfica
- Belgium: Club Brugge
How did Real Madrid qualify for the Champions League round of 16?
Defending champion, Real Madrid, is not one of those eight teams that had directly sealed its spot in the pre-quarterfinals after finishing the third in the league table.
Los Blancos reached the top 16 after a 6-3 aggregate win over Manchester City in the knockout phase playoff tie after finishing 11th.
League phase: W5 D0 L3 F20 A12 (11th place)
Knockout phase play-off: Man City 6-3 agg (W3-2 a, W3-1 h)
UEFA coefficient ranking: 1
Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Vinícius Júnior (64)
Best European Cup performance: Winners (1955/56, 1956/57, 1957/58, 1958/59, 1959/60, 1965/66, 1997/98, 1999/2000, 2001/02, 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2021/22, 2023/24)
Last season: Winners (W2-0 vs Dortmund)
Who can Real Madrid face in UCL round of 16?
Real Madrid will face either city rival Atletico Madrid or German champion Bayer Leverkusen.
Head-to-head Records
Real Madrid Head-to-head record vs Atletico Madrid
Played – 120
Real Madrid win – 7
Draws – 2
Atletico Madrid wins – 3
Real Madrid Head-to-head record vs Bayer Leverkusen
Played – 7
Real Madrid win – 4
Draws – 2
Bayer Leverkusen wins – 1
Real Madrid Squad
Real Madrid
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Fran Gonzalez
Defenders: Militao, Lucas V., Vallejo, Fran Garcia, Rudiger, Asencio, Mendy
Midfielders: Modric, Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Modric, Tchouameni, Arda Guler, Ceballos
Forwards: Vini Jr, Mbappé, Rodrygo, Endrick, Brahim
* As per September 4, 2024. Will be updated once the club announces final squad for round of 16.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com