Who Arsenal can face
Arsenal drew with PSV in the Netherlands on Tuesday night and ended on 13 points (W4, D1, L1) in what was an impressive return to the Champions League after six seasons away. The Gunners were imperious at home at the Emirates with three wins from three, 12 goals scored and none conceded.
They cannot play PSV in the last 16 because they were in the same group together with Lens and Sevilla. But they can play any of…
Copenhagen, Napoli, Inter Milan, Lazio, PSG, RB Leipzig, Porto
Kylian Mbappe’s Paris Saint-Germain, Italian champions Napoli and Inter Milan, last season’s European Cup runners-up, represent the most formidable opponents that await Arsenal. Arsenal may see PSG as beatable though given they failed to beat Newcastle and lost 4-1 at St James’ Park while Napoli are not as scary as they were last year.
RB Leipzig came second in Man City’s group and are no pushovers. They sit fourth in the Bundesliga and lost 3-2 away at Man City and 3-1 at home to the Citizens. Copenhagen are a surprise addition in the last 16 but beat Man Utd 4-3 at home while only narrowly losing 2-1 at Old Trafford after missing a late penalty.
Porto and Lazio are the most favourable possible ties for Arsenal. Lazio are only 10th in Serie A and have lost six of their 15 league matches as well as two of their six Champions League group games. Porto are joint top of the Portuguese league and are capable of a shock but lost home and away to Barcelona, a team Arsenal will class themselves superior to.
Who Man City can face
Holders City cruised through their group with 18 points from 18 and 18 goals scored across their six victories over RB Leipzig, Young Boys and Red Star Belgrade. They beat the Serbs 3-2 in their final match on Wednesday evening with youngsters Micah Hamilton and Oscar Bobb scoring.
They cannot face Leipzig in the next round due to being in the same group but could take on any of…
PSV, Copenhagen, Napoli, Inter Milan, Lazio, PSG, Porto
A two-legged tie with Inter would be a replay of last year’s final in Istanbul, which ended 1-0 to City thanks to Rodri’s goal. Like Arsenal, the three toughest opponents for Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions would be PSG, Napoli or Inter.
Truthfully, City will be extremely confident no matter who they get as arguably the best team on the planet who saw off heavyweights like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid en route to success last season. They would be heavily fancied to beat Lazio or Porto, much like Arsenal would.
They can face PSV in the knockouts, unlike the Gunners, against whom they would also be big favourites after the Londoners thrashed them 4-0 in the groups. Copenhagen would present an intriguing opponent given their win against City’s neighbours United. City would no doubt love to put the Danes out of the competition to reaffirm that they are vastly superior to the Red Devils.
When is the last 16 draw?
The round of 16 draw for the 2023-24 Champions League will be conducted next Monday (December 18) in Nyon, Switzerland. It will take place at 11am UK time. Express Sport will provide live coverage of the draw.
Every team in the Champions League draw
Group winners: Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Man City, Barcelona
Group runners-up: PSV, Copenhagen, Napoli, Inter Milan, Lazio, PSG, RB Leipzig, Porto
