Messi versus Ronaldo in UCL round of 16, details of full draw
Lionel Messi will square up against old-time rival Christiano Ronaldo in the Champions League round of 16 when the competition resumes next year following the results of Monday’s draw.
There are many interesting fixtures including Athletico Madrid versus Bayern Munich, Manchester City versus Vilarreal and more but the one that will attract attention in February is the renewed rivalry between PSG’s Lionel Messi and Manchester United’s Christiano Ronaldo. The two combine have won nine Champions League trophies between them and are by miles far apart the two most prolific scorers in the competition history with over 250 goals between them.
Both players are having contrasting fortunes at their clubs which they joined last summer. Whereas Christiano Ronaldo hit the ground running with goals for Manchester United and incredibly scoring six in five this season in the Champions League and seven in the Premier League, Lionel Messi had a slow start to life in Paris. The diminutive winger has scored just a goal in Ligue 1 though he has recorded 5 assists as well. He is however very productive in the Champions League and has returned five goals so far in the competition.
Their greatness and desire to win makes this PSG-Manchester United tie the more intriguing and arguably one of the top liners of the season.
In the other fixtures, record champions Real Madrid will travel away to Benfica in the first leg and would fancy their chances of advancing to the last 8 against the Portugues side. Liverpoopl will be away to Sazburg in the first leg and Jurgen Klopp’s men are favourites to advance having won all six matches in their perceived ‘group of death’.
Another English side that will play away in the first leg is Manchester City who topped the group that contained Paris Saint Germain. Guadiola would want to make amends for last season’s final defeat to Chelsea by navigating their journey to the final and try to win the only title that has eluded him at the Etihad so far. They will have to go past Villarreal in order to have any hope of matching those dreams.
Chelsea will defend their title by travelling away to face French side LOSC Lille in the first leg after failing to match Juventus’ results on the last day in order to top the group. Thomas Tuchel’s men are in a mini crisis with a leaking defense bereft of confidence but they nonetheless are one of the favourites of this season.
Diego Simone will have heavy task at hand preparing his side for the visit of Bayern Munich to the Wanda Metropolitano. The German side is unarguably the most inform European club presently and any team drawing them must be ready to match them or face humiliation. The Bavarians have already executed and supervised the downfall of Barcelona this season and were the only obstacle between the La Liga giants place among the European elite and that of the second string sides, the latter they ultimately were condemned to by the Bavarians. Athletico however, are not just any side and would want to give Bayern a good run for their money.
Juventus after a final day victory that saw them leapfrog Chelsea to emerge group winners will want to cast their history of the past few seasons behind them and make a big statement of intent against Sporting CP. The Old Lady are not in good position in the Serie A this season but they have shown that they are a force to reckon in Europe despite the match day five annihilation at the hands of Chelsea.
Inter Milan and Ajax will square off in another interesting fixture in the last 16 stage. Ajax run out with six wins out of six to emerge as one of only three teams to escape the groups stage without tasting a draw nor defeat. Erik ten Hag had said after the final group matches that no team would want to draw them in the round of 16 and he probably was right but Inter Milan who make a return to the competition after so many years of absence would be looking to retake their place among the European elite and a beating Ajax to advance would be a good statement of intent.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester United
Chelsea vs LOSC
Sporting CP vs Juventus
Inter vs Ajax
Salzburg vs Liverpool
Atletico Madrrid vs Bayern Munich
Villarreal vs Manchester City
Benfica vs Real Madrid
By: Clifford Adumbire | myactiveonline.com
