The English sides left within the Champions League have learnt their path to the ultimate following the draw for the knockout rounds.
One of many modifications to the competitors this yr is seeding, with groups ending first and second being unable to play one another till the ultimate.
The draw has additionally plotted the groups complete path to the Champions League ultimate, that means every groups is aware of all their potential opponents proper as much as the ultimate in Munich.
An necessary issue to notice is because of the seeding the configuration of fixtures and potential opponents was already considerably distinguishable.
As a part of the play off draw groups from Ninth-Sixteenth have been paired (Ninth and tenth, eleventh and twelfth, and many others) with groups from Seventeenth-Twenty fourth. groups ending Ninth/tenth might be drawn in opposition to groups who completed twenty third and Twenty fourth, a bit bit just like the Championship play-offs.
This then corresponded with their potential opponents within the spherical of 16.
For instance, Liverpool completed 1st and Barcelona second. They’re now seeded and can’t meet till the ultimate. They might face the groups who completed fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth and 18th.
Every crew who completed 1st-Eighth might play certainly one of two groups, and won’t be able to fulfill their pair till the ultimate.
Liverpool’s path to the Champions League ultimate
Mohamed Salah is trying so as to add a second Champions League trophy to his cupboard (Picture credit score: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC through Getty Pictures)
Arne Slot profitable begin to life on Merseyside was underscored by The Reds topping the Champions League League Part. They head into the knockouts as high seeds and have been ready to attract both Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica following each groups progress from the play-offs.
They’ve been pitted in opposition to PSG, who ran out 10-0 winners over Brest within the play-offs, and it is going to be the primary time the groups have met because the 2018/19 season, the final time Liverpool gained the competitors.
Because the draw plotted every groups path to the ultimate, Liverpool know ought to they beat PSG they’ll face both Membership Brugge from Belgium, or Aston Villa. they’ve already face one another twice this season, with the most recent instalment being an entertaining 2-2 draw at Villa Park.
Ought to they progress from the quarter-final, they’ll meet certainly one of PSV, Arsenal, Actual Madrid or Atletico Madrid. In fact every tie comes with its personal spice, however a possible Champions League semi-final showdown with Arsenal would see the second leg performed lower than 4 days earlier than their Premier League conflict at Anfield.
Arsenal’s path to the Champions League ultimate
Mikel Arteta is taking cost of his second Champions League marketing campaign for the Gunners (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Mikel Arteta ‘s males discover themselves within the Champions League knockouts for the second season in a row, and they are going to be hoping to enhance on final seasons quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich .
A visit to the Netherlands was on the playing cards as Arsenal might have confronted both PSV or Feyenoord, with the previous being the tie the Gunners have been handed. They confronted off twice within the 2023/24 season, with Arsenal successful 4-0 at The Emirates, however held to a 1-1 draw at PSV Stadion.
Ought to Arsenal overcome PSV they’ll tackle both Actual Madrid or Ateltico Madrid. They final time they confronted any of those groups was in 2018, when Atletico Madrid beat them within the Europa League semi-finals.
It’s a must to go all the way in which again to 2006 for the one time they confronted Actual Madrid, the place a single Thierry Henry purpose over two legs noticed them by way of to the Champions league quarter-finals.
Ought to they progress to the semi-finals, certainly one of Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Aston Villa or Membership Brugge will probably be ready for them. The Gunners have already crushed PSG this season, operating out 2-0 winners at The Emirates.
Nevertheless, in the event that they have been to fulfill Liverpool, an 10 day showdown between the 2 golf equipment would start, with the semi-finals appearing because the precursor to what might be a title deciding fixture at Anfield on Might 10/11.
Aston Villa’s path to the Champions League ultimate
Emi Martinez is trying so as to add a possible Champions League to the World Cup in his trophy cupboard (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Aston Villa are participating of their first Champions League/European Cup marketing campaign since 1983. After a sensational group stage that noticed wins over Bayern Munich and Celtic at Villa Park they’ll embark on the knockout phases.
The draw noticed them pitted in opposition to Membership Brugge within the spherical of 16, a crew they’ve already confronted within the competitors. The Villans have been 1-0 losers that day, with a Tyrone Mings second of insanity handing the Belgian facet a penalty.
Ought to they advance from this conflict, they’ll face both Liverpool or Paris Saint-Germain. They’ve by no means confronted PSG of their historical past, whereas they’re fairly acquainted with Liverpool. They not too long ago held The Reds to a 2-2 draw at Villa Park within the Premier League.
A magical journey to the semi-finals would see them greeted by certainly one of PSV, Arsenal, Actual Madrid or Atletico Madrid . They’ve by no means confronted PSV or Actual Madrid in any competitors, while their solely assembly with Atletico Madrid got here in 1998 within the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, the place Aston Villa misplaced on away objectives (bear in mind them?).
Arsenal are acquainted foe they usually have solely misplaced certainly one of their final 4 conferences with them within the Premier League, doing the double over them within the 2023/24 season.
