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Premier League clubs to learn European opponents for last 16

19 Feb 2025
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Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Man Utd, Spurs and Chelsea await draw for Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Conference League on Friday

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The last 16 teams in the UEFA Champions League have been finalised after the playoff round, with the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League also reaching the same stage after Thursday night's ties. 

On Friday, the six remaining Premier League clubs in Europe - Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea - will discover their opponents when the draws are made.

Here's all you need to know.

When do the draws take place?

The UEFA Champions League last-16 draw takes place on Friday 21 February at 11:00 GMT.

This is followed by the draw for the UEFA Europa League from 12:00 GMT and the UEFA Conference League draw at 13:00 GMT.

How do the draws work?

The Champions League, Europa League and Conference League draws all follow the same format. 

The teams who finished in the top eight places in the league phase are all seeded in couples: the first-placed side are paired with the second-placed side, and so on. These pairs will be on opposite sides of the draw and cannot possibly meet until the final.

For each of the seeded teams, their reward for a top-eight finish is a tie against a side who finished outside the top eight and who have had to win a playoff tie to reach the last 16.

On Friday, each club will find out who they will face next and which half of the draw they will go into. Teams from the same country can meet each other at any point.

As an example, Liverpool finished first in the Champions League league phase. They are therefore seeded first and are paired with second-placed Barcelona, with the two clubs going into opposite sides of the draw.

The two possible opponents for Liverpool and Barcelona are Paris Saint-Germain, who finished 15th in the league phase before winning their playoff tie, and Benfica, who finished 16th before also coming through the playoffs. Liverpool will face one of these two clubs, and Barcelona will face the other.

Who could the other PL sides face in Champions League?
Screenshot 2025-02-19 at 23.24.17

Arsenal meet either Feyenoord, who advanced after defeating seven-time winners AC Milan, or PSV Eindhoven, who overcame Juventus on Wednesday night. 

Either Club Brugge or Borussia Dortmund await Villa.

Who could PL sides face in Europa League?
0_EuropaPNG

Man Utd and Spurs automatically progressed to the last 16 after finishing in the top eight of the league phase.

One of them will face AZ Alkmaar and the other will take on Real Sociedad.

Who could Chelsea face in Conference League?
0_ConfPNG

Chelsea's possible opponents became clearer on Thursday following the conclusion of the Conference League knockout matches.

They will now play either Real Betis or FC Copenhagen.

When are the last-16 matches?

UEFA Champions League
First legs: 4-5 March
Second legs: 11-12 March 

UEFA Europa League
First legs: 6 March
Second legs: 13 March

UEFA Conference League 
First legs: 6 March
Second legs: 13 March

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