Champions League Knockout Stage: Who Will Advance and Who Will Fall Short?

The Champions League round of 16 draw took place earlier yesterday, 21st February 2025, with qualified teams getting to know their opponents for the round of 16 knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League.

The UEFA Champions League is expected to continue with the round of 16 games after the draw for the next stage of the tournament was completed earlier yesterday. The road to the finals in Munich Football Arena on the 31st of May 2025 has started after the teams that made it to the round of 16 stage of the tournament have been able to know their various opponents. Football fans saw a new model of the UEFA Champions League this season. The new model, also known as the Swiss model, replaced the traditional group stage format where teams were housed in a group of four.

The new model saw 36 teams participating in a single league where each team played a total of eight matches, four at home and also four matches away. The top eight teams automatically qualified for the next stage of the competition, which is the round of 16, and also teams that finished in the 9th to 24th positions played in the playoff round to also qualify for the knockout stage. Teams finishing 25th to 36th were automatically eliminated.

Who Will Advance? Who Will Not…??

The UEFA Champions League draw, which was held earlier yesterday, saw the fixtures below being decided. We will be delving into the various fixtures predicting those who can qualify for the quarter finals and those who cannot qualify.

1. PSG Vs Liverpool: The England-based club Liverpool sealed qualification to the next round of the competition after they emerged as the winners of the maiden edition of the UCL league phase. After 8 matches played, Liverpool managed to clinch the first position with a total of 21 points with a goal difference of 12, scoring a total number of 17 goals and conceding only 5. PSG, however, managed to qualify for the next stage after winning their games in the knockout playoffs against Brest. PSG was in the 15th position with a total of 13 points. Scored 14 goals and conceded 9. This fixture is expected to be a clash of two heavyweights, but Liverpool qualifying to the next round of the competition at the end of the two-leg matches is highly possible.

2. Feyenoord vs. Inter: Inter Milan will also be facing Feyenoord in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. At the end of the league phase, Inter qualified with an automatic qualification as they were positioned in the 4th position on the league log, scoring a total of 11 goals and conceding only 1. Feyenoord also was placed 19th in the league, thus playing a knockout playoff before qualifying. This fixture can see Inter qualifying to the next stage of the competition after the two-leg games.

3. PSV vs. Arsenal: Arsenal will be hoping to qualify for the next stage of the competition after being drawn against PSV. The Netherlands-based club really has shown some great potential after eliminating one of the world’s best clubs, Juventus, in the knockout playoffs. Arsenal, who are currently 2nd in the English Premier League, can possibly make it to the next stage of the competition.

4. Dortmund vs. Lille: The fixture can end up going in favor of either of the two teams. Lile, who were against the odds, managed to qualify for the next stage of the competition after gaining an automatic qualification. Dortmund, on the other hand, qualified after winning their fixture in the knockout phase.

5. Bayern Munich vs. Bayer 04 Leverkusen. This fixture is expected to repeat itself after both teams played in a goalless in the German Bundesliga. Bayer 04 Leverkusen are the favorites to qualify for the next round of the competition, as Bayern Munich have been a little bit shaky in their tactical display after the appointment of former Burnley head coach Vincent Kompany.

6. Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid. The Madrid derby is expected to be played again in the Champions League after both teams, who are based in Spain, were drawn against each other. The first 2 fixtures between these two teams this season have already ended in a 1-1 draw. This fixture can also not be predicted, as any of the teams can seal qualification to the next stage of the competition.

7. Benfica vs. Barcelona. This fixture is again expected to repeat itself after a dramatic encounter in the league phase when both teams played. Barcelona won in the first fixture when both teams played after a superb finish from Raphinha helped the team to secure the win very late in the game. As at the first half, Barcelona were already down by 3 goals to 1. But managed to win the game by 5 goals to 4. This fixture again in the round of 16 can see Barcelona making it to the next stage of the competition after both legs are played.