Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa have discovered their opponents for the Champions League last 16 and beyond.
All three Premier League sides earned direct entry to the last 16 of Europe's elite tournament courtesy of top-eight finishes in the league phase, thereby bypassing the knockout round playoffs.
There was the possibility of an all-English final in Munich later this year, but that eventuality is no longer on the cards as the trio have been drawn in the same side of the last-16 draw, where Liverpool will pit their wits against perpetual French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Should Arne Slot's men win that two-legged encounter with the Ligue 1 holders, they could come up against none other than Villa in the quarter-finals, as Unai Emery's men prepare to face Club Brugge.
On the same side of the draw, Arsenal have been paired with Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, whom they also met in the 2022-23 Europa League and 2023-24 Champions League group stage.
Liverpool draw PSG as Arsenal to meet PSV
© Iconsport
If the Gunners advance from that last-16 battle, their quarter-final opponents will be either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid, who collide in one of two titanic last-16 derbies and a repeat of the 2014 and 2016 finals.
Arsenal memorably overcame the current holders in the last 16 during their run to the final in the 2005-06 campaign, as Thierry Henry bagged the only goal in a 1-0 triumph at the Bernabeu, and the Gunners may face either Liverpool or Aston Villa in an all-English semi-final.
As well as Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid, the other half of the last-16 draw sees Bundesliga title rivals Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen go head-to-head for the chance to meet either Feyenoord or Inter Milan in the quarters.
Finally, Barcelona - who placed second in the league phase - will take on Benfica, while Borussia Dortmund have been drawn to meet Lille, and the winner of that tie could square up to La Blaugrana in the quarter-finals.
Later down the line, Real Madrid and Barcelona could meet in an extraordinary El Clasico final, while other possibilities for the Munich showpiece in May include Arsenal vs. Barcelona (the 2005-06 final), PSG vs. Bayern (the 2019-20 final), Liverpool vs. Bayern or Liverpool vs. Barcelona.
When are the Champions League last-16, quarter-finals, semi-finals?
© Imago
The last 16 of the Champions League begins with the first legs on March 4/5 before the second legs on March 11/12, and the teams that qualified directly for the last 16 will be at home in the second leg.
The quarter-finals, meanwhile, will take place on April 8/9 and April 15/16, and the semi-finals on April 29/30 and May 6/7, before the Allianz Arena in Munich hosts the 2024-25 final on May 31.
2024-25 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE KNOCKOUT DRAW IN FULL:
Last-16:
Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa
Borussia Dortmund vs. Lille
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid
Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen
PSV Eindhoven vs. Arsenal
Feyenoord vs. Inter Milan
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Liverpool
Benfica vs. Barcelona
Quarter-finals:
PSV/Arsenal vs. Real Madrid/Atletico
PSG/Liverpool vs. Brugge/Villa
Benfica/Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund/Lille
Bayern/Leverkusen vs. Feyenoord/Inter
Ben Knapton
