The UEFA Champions League last-16 draw has set up thrilling matchups, with several Nigerian players still in contention.
Six Nigerians—Raphael Onyedika, Chuba Akpom, Victor Boniface, Nathan Tella remain in the competition, each now aware of their pathway to potential glory.
Onyedika played a pivotal role in Club Brugge’s shock playoff victory over Europa League champions Atalanta, a result that sparked tensions between Gian Piero Gasperini and Ademola Lookman. Club Brugge now faces Aston Villa, who last reached this stage in 1983.
Chuba Akpom, recently signed by Lille from Ajax, will continue his Champions League journey against Karim Adeyemi’s Borussia Dortmund.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen’s Nigerian duo—Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface—face a daunting challenge against Bundesliga rivals, Bayern Munich. Xabi Alonso’s side will look to maintain their stellar form against Bayern, the team they edged to last season’s league title. Despite this, Bayern currently holds an eight-point lead over Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, with their last encounter ending in a goalless draw.
In the round’s headline fixture, defending champions, Real Madrid will clash with city rivals Atletico Madrid. Los Blancos, who eliminated Manchester City 6-3 on aggregate in the playoffs, will aim to continue their dominance over Atletico, whom they defeated in the 2014 and 2016 finals.
Elsewhere, group stage leaders, Liverpool travel to face Paris Saint-Germain, fresh off a commanding 10-0 aggregate win over Brest in the playoffs.
Other matchups include Barcelona taking on Benfica, while last season’s runners-up, Inter Milan, meet Feyenoord.
Champions League Last-16 Fixtures:
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool
- Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
- Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
- PSV Eindhoven vs Arsenal
- Benfica vs Barcelona
- Borussia Dortmund vs Lille
- Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen
- Feyenoord vs Inter Milan
Quarter-Final Paths:
- QF1: PSG/Liverpool vs Brugge/Villa
- QF2: PSV/Arsenal vs Real/Atletico
- QF3: Benfica/Barcelona vs Dortmund/Lille
- QF4: Bayern/Leverkusen vs Feyenoord/Inter
