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Champions League Round Of 16 Draw: Date, Time, Qualified Teams, Fixtures

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The inaugural Champions League knockout play-offs have concluded, setting the stage for the much-anticipated round of 16 draw.

When is the Champions League Round of 16 Draw?
The draw will take place on Friday, February 21, at 11 AM (UK time); 12PM (Nigeria time).

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Teams Qualified for the Round of 16
The top eight teams from the league phase automatically secured their spots in the round of 16. These teams are:

READ ALSO: Arsenal Post £17.7m Loss Despite Record Revenues

Liverpool
Barcelona
Arsenal
Inter Milan
Atletico Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen
Lille
Aston Villa
They will be joined by the eight winners from the knockout play-offs:

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Bayern Munich
Benfica
Club Brugge
Feyenoord
Borussia Dortmund
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
Real Madrid
PSV Eindhoven
How Does the Last-16 Draw Work?
The draw follows a structured bracket system, with potential opponents for the last 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals pre-determined based on teams’ final league positions.

The top eight clubs are grouped into four seeded pairs according to their league phase rankings:

1st vs 2nd
3rd vs 4th
5th vs 6th
7th vs 8th
Each seeded pair is drawn against one of the knockout play-off winners. Four bowls will be used in the draw:

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One for seeded teams
One for knockout play-off winners
Two for bracket allocation
Teams will be placed into the bracket systematically, ensuring a balanced knockout phase.

READ ALSO: ‘How Liverpool Can Cope With PL Title Nerves’ – Van Dijk

Who Could British Teams Face in the Last 16?
Liverpool (1st seed) vs PSG (15th) or Benfica (16th)
Arsenal (3rd seed) vs PSV (14th) or Feyenoord (19th)
Aston Villa (8th seed) vs Borussia Dortmund (10th) or Club Brugge (24th)
Champions League Knockout Play-Off Results

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First Legs (February 11-12):

Brest 0-3 PSG
Juventus 2-1 PSV Eindhoven
Man City 2-3 Real Madrid
Sporting Lisbon 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
Club Brugge 2-1 Atalanta
Celtic 1-2 Bayern Munich
Feyenoord 1-0 AC Milan
Monaco 0-1 Benfica
Second Legs (February 18-19)

AC Milan 1-1 Feyenoord (agg 1-2)
Atalanta 1-3 Club Brugge (agg 2-5)
Bayern Munich 1-1 Celtic (agg 3-2)
Benfica 3-3 Monaco (agg 4-3)
Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Sporting Lisbon (agg 3-0)
PSG 7-0 Brest (agg 10-0)
PSV Eindhoven 3-1 Juventus (agg 4-3)
Real Madrid 3-1 Man City (agg 6-3)
Champions League Knockout Stage Schedule
Round of 16: March 4/5 & March 11/12
Quarter-finals: April 8/9 & April 15/16
Semi-finals: April 29/30 & May 6/7
Final: May 31 (Allianz Arena, Munich)
With the draw set to determine the next phase of the competition, excitement is building as teams prepare for the road to the Champions League final.

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JUST IN: Cristiano Ronaldo Confirms Al Nassr’s Stay, To Sign New Deal

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Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to extend his stay with Saudi pro side Al Nassr and is even ready to sign a new deal.

According to Fabrizio Romano’s post on X on Monday, the Portuguese have dismissed rumours of leaving Al Nassr.

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The post read, “Cristiano Ronaldo confirms plan to stay at Al Nassr by signing a new deal.

“My future? Basically, nothing is gonna change. Staying at Al Nassr? Yea.”

READ ALSO: Saudi League: Many People Don’t Understand – Ex-American Player Defends Cristiano Ronaldo

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Recall that the 40-year-old on Sunday helped his national team to secure the Nation’s League for the second time four years after the Nation’s League was unveiled.

Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in December 2022 on a record-breaking deal, has played a transformative role both on and off the pitch.

His arrival marked a turning point for Saudi football, drawing global attention to the Saudi Pro League and triggering a wave of high-profile signings across the league.

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READ ALSO: Cristiano Ronaldo Tops List Of Highest Earners In Saudi Arabia Pro League [Top 10]

During his time at Al Nassr so far, Ronaldo has delivered impressive performances, scoring consistently and helping the club remain competitive at the top level. His presence has not only boosted the club’s visibility but also played a key role in the league’s growing popularity worldwide.

The announcement of his continued stay is seen as a significant boost for Al Nassr and the Saudi Pro League as a whole. It also signals Ronaldo’s long-term commitment to the ambitious football project unfolding in the region.

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Brazil Star, Neymar Tests Positive For COVID-19

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Brazil forward Neymar has been sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19, Santos announced in a statement cited by Brazilian media.

The 33-year-old began showing symptoms on Thursday and was immediately withdrawn from all team activities. Medical tests later confirmed the viral infection, the Brazil Serie A club said on Saturday.

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Santos did not specify how long Neymar will be out of action and did not respond immediately to a Reuters request for comment.

Neymar is already set to miss Thursday’s league match at Fortaleza due to suspension.

READ ALSO: Chelsea Boss Maresca insists Money No Guarantee Of Success

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That Fortaleza game will be Santos’ final fixture before the Brazilian league pauses for the Club World Cup in the United States, scheduled from June 14 to July 13.

The former Barcelona forward’s future with Santos remains uncertain as his contract expires on June 30.

Limited by injury, Neymar has made 12 appearances across all competitions this season, tallying three goals and three assists.

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Osimhen Rejects Al Hilal 5th Offer, Wants To Stay In Europe

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Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has officially turned down a fifth offer from Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal, reaffirming his desire to remain in Europe.

In a post shared via X (formerly Twitter) handle, journalist Buchi Laba. Laba revealed that Osimhen has shut the door on any potential move to Saudi Arabia, regardless of the financial incentives.

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Victor Osimhen officially rejects Al Hilal 5th offer,” Laba wrote. “He has decided to not move there no matter the money offered. Case closed.”

READ ALSO: Osimhen To Sign Chelsea Pre-contract Agreement

Osimhen, who has been a subject of transfer speculation in recent months, appears to be in no rush to make a decision about his next move.

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Sources close to the player suggest that his main priority is to continue his career in Europe, where he feels more competitively challenged.

Main priority is to stay back in Europe,” Laba added, noting that “a top Italian club [is] very interested and other European clubs” are also keeping tabs on the Nigerian forward.

READ ALSO: Osimhen Fuels Speculation Of Future Move To Chelsea On His Birthday

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The 26-year-old Napoli star has been linked with several clubs across Europe, including teams in the Premier League and Serie A.

However, he is reportedly taking his time to evaluate the best sporting project before making his next move.

Osimhen was instrumental in Napoli’s Serie A title win in the 2022/23 season and also helped Galatasaray to a domestic double during his loan spell in Turkey last season.

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