The road to the 2025 Champions League Finals is mapped following a 16-round draw on Friday, with some Titanic clashes on the way to the showpiece game held in Munich on May 31.
Defensive champions Real Madrid, Premier League leaders Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal will have to compete on the silver path to win a place in the final. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich and Barcelona were handed a route through a blue road that appears to be simpler than the draw bracket.
However, the favorite to win the competition first has to navigate the way to go through 16 rounds, and no one in the heavyweights has an easy route to the quarterfinals.
The next phase will be less than two weeks, so what is the bond, who will reach the quarterfinals?
Silver Pass
This is a meeting between two of the competitive surprise team. Nikki Hayen’s Bruge retracted an unexpected 5-2 overall victory over Europa League winner Atalanta last season in the playoff round. Bruges is a starless team, but their collective efforts have taken them to 16 rounds, and they have already beaten Villas this season – in November’s 1-0 league stage in Belgium Wins of the Emery team that gives them confidence to beat UNAI.
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However, Villa could not draw a better tie in an attempt to reach the latter stage, and could even repeat the success of 1982, when the club was the only European Cup winner. Emery will learn from his defeat in Bruges and his villa team will become a strong favorite, especially to book a quarter-final clash with Liverpool or PSG in Game 2 at home.
Winner: Aston Villa
Liverpool cruised through the league stage and took the top of all 32 teams with a record of seven wins and one loss in eight matches, but PSG needs a victory at VFB Stuttgart in the final game It’s now a playoff round.
But don’t be fooled by the early struggles of PSG. Luis Enrique’s young team appears to have clicked over the past few weeks, and they booked a 16 round location with a 10-0 total victory over Brest in the playoffs. Ousmane Dembélé became a PSG amulet figure and added former Naples winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to his team in January. Liverpool will be my favorite, but this tie is very close and PSG has the pace and confidence to beat the sides of Arneslot.
Winner: PSG
PSV’s Juventus’ playoff round elimination highlights the dangerous quality of Peter Boss’ team. Former Tottenham Hotspur winger Ivan Perizic and experienced centre-forward Luke de John can make life difficult for Arsenal, but the Dutch champions hit them with two legs The one that will beat you will be a tall order.
Mikel Arteta’s team is struggling with injuries this season as Kai Herberts and Gabriel Jesus kicked out forwards Kai Herberts and Gabriel Jesus, which will impact their ability to win the Champions League for the first time. Masu. However, the gunners have too much overall quality for the PSV and need to accomplish that through the quarterfinals and clash with the Real or Atletico Madrid.
Winner: Arsenal
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What to expect when Real Madrid faces Atletico Madrid in the Champions League
Spanish rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were drawn together in the 16th round of the Champions League.
here we go again. The two Madrid Giants will lock their horns in the Champions League for the first time in 11 years. Winning the 2014 and 2016 finals and beating their neighbors in the 2015 quarterfinals and the 2017 semifinals, it was a story of true glory and Atletico’s pain during that period. Atletico never ruled out real from the competition even after losing the semi-final playoffs in 1958-59, but Diego Simeone’s team had two 1-1 derby draws in LaLiga this season. I played.
The real thing is flying now. Killian’s Mbapet hat trick seals off a 6-3 overall victory in the playoffs against Manchester City. But do Atletico stay at home in this second tie and their luck with reality have to change at some point? Probably not.
Winner: Real Madrid
Blue Pass
A potentially epic tie between six-time European champions Bayern and Zavia Lonso’s dominant Bundesliga champion Lebakusen. Both teams have lost only once in the Bundesliga this season, but Bayern has an eight-point lead at the top of the table above Leberkusen. And with Allianz Arena holding this year’s final, they will be desperate to overcome their German rivals.
Bayern needed an equalizer of stop time against Celtic in the playoff round, but Leverkusen’s top eight finish in the league stage would avoid these two extra games and play the second game of this tie from home. I received a bonus. Alonso has not lost any of his six meetings with Bayern since taking over at Bairena. With all the pressure on Bayern and the question mark on Harry Kane’s fitness due to calf issues, Leverkusen might just have the edge.
Winner: Bayer Leberkusen
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What to expect when Bayern Munich faces Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League
From the title rival to the Champions League rivals when Bayer Leverkusen faces Bayer Leverkusen in the 16th round.
Expect this tie’s goal. These two played an incredible league stage game in Lisbon in January, finishing 5-4 for Barcelona. Benfica’s 3-0 home victory over Barca in the group stage in 2021-22 led the Spanish giants to crash in the group stage for the first time in 20 years, but the underdogs to emulate that success this season It will become.
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Benfica has goals on their side, but Vangelis Pavridis has scored seven Champions League goals so far this season, while Kelem Akturkoglu has shown four weights. However, Barcelona has begun to click under Hansiflik, and the front three of Robert Lewandowski, Lamin Yamal and Rafinha are undoubtedly the best attack trio in Europe. They should be too strong for Benfica.
Winner: Barcelona
Dortmund has struggled with form in the Bundesliga, where he is 11th and works as the third coach since losing to Real Madrid in the Champions League final last season. However, new boss Nico Kobak has led Dortmund to a 3-0 overall playoff victory over Sports CP, and forward Self-Gillersy is the leading Champions League goals scorer this season, making it a point to Germany’s The Giants believe they can overcome the reel and book the quarter final against Inter or Feyenoord.
Lille relies on Jonathan David’s goals and Othem Saharawi’s creativity to defeat Dortmund. This tie really doesn’t get close. But as Kovac brings experience to Dortmund, they have the advantage to get through it.
Winner: Borussia Dortmund
Sources told ESPN that Robin Van Persy will be appointed Feyenord’s coach in time to take on his first Champions League tie, but former Arsenal and Manchester United are in Inter He is taking a bigger challenge than he does. Simone Inzaghi’s team appeared from the league stage with the best defensive record, recognised only once in eight games and held seven clean sheets.
The Serie A Champions are the first dangerous outsiders to win the competition since 2010, losing only 1-0 to Manchester City in the 2023 Champions League final in Istanbul. And Marcus Thurham offers a real threat ahead of time. Feyenoord beat AC Milan in the playoffs, but Inter is too strong for Van Persy’s side.
Winner: Inter
Full round of 16 draws and route to the final
