NYON, SWITZERLAND (AFP) - Liverpool will take on fellow five-time winners Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Jose Mourinho's struggling Manchester United face French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
Holders Real Madrid were paired with Ajax in Monday's (Dec 17) draw in Nyon as the Spaniards attempt to lift the trophy for the fifth time in six seasons, while Lionel Messi and Barcelona will play Lyon.
Both Liverpool and Bayern have a rich tradition in the competition, each winning it five times and Liverpool were beaten finalists last season.
Liverpool are the current form side of the two and sit top of the Premier League while Bayern, under new coach Niko Kovac, have been far short of their own high standards in the Bundesliga this season.
"That's the team of the hour, the league leaders in England, they are playing really good football, very physical, really stepping it up. We are looking forward to it," Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said of the tie with Liverpool.
"A tough cookie, but that's something to look forward to as a player."
Liverpool boss Klopp added: "It will be a tough one, an interesting one, and I am looking forward to it." .
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City take on German side Schalke 04 while Atletico Madrid, beaten finalists in 2014 and 2016, come up against Cristiano Ronaldo and Italian heavyweights Juventus.
"A very difficult match, with few goals," Juve vice-president Pavel Nedved predicted.
"No doubt Cristiano is the man of the Champions League, he has always shown that, with goals and victories. Our team is very strong and we can be calm and confident."
Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund will meet Tottenham Hotspur for the second season in a row, having faced each other in last year's group stage, while Roma meet two-time former champions Porto.
"We've already met them (Tottenham) twice. A strong opponent, the chances are at 50-50. The team has top players. We are also strong, it will be interesting," Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told Sky.
Meanwhile, United go into a first ever meeting with PSG trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by 19 points following Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Anfield, and face a formidable task against a side featuring Neymar and Kylian Mbappe - the world's two most expensive players.
"It's always difficult to play Manchester United," said PSG boss Thomas Tuchel. "They have lots of experience in this competition, they've won it numerous times. It's always difficult to play at Old Trafford, it's always a big challenge.
"It's the same thing against Mourinho. He has lots of experience in this competition and you must have respect."
Manchester City's director of football Txiki Begiristain warned the English champions will not have it easy against a Schalke outfit languishing in 13th place in Germany following a nightmare start.
"Teams that have been struggling in their leagues have still they've done very well in the Champions League," said Begiristain. "Schalke will be difficult. After a winter break, German clubs are always very dangerous."
Lyon coach Bruno Genesio says his team can draw on their group stage displays against City - a 2-1 win and 2-2 draw - ahead of their clash with five-time European champions Barca.
"We'll need to pull off two big performances, in the first leg and in the return, but we can do it. We did it against City," said Genesio.
"It's tough. They are a team that Lyon has already played against but never beaten. Barca are more experienced and stronger but over two matches anything is possible," Gerard Houllier, who holds an advisory role at the French club, told RMC Sport.
"The first match is key and we are playing at home. Barca are potential champions. We have nothing to lose. Everything is a bonus for Lyon."
Teams that finished in second place in the group stage will host the first legs on Feb 12-13 and Feb 19-20 with the return matches scheduled for March 5-6 and March 12-13.
'We are going into this with massive confidence': Fulham boss Scott Parker says spirits are sky high after Everton win as he insists side can end miserable away run at Bournemouth
Mourinho has a friend in Ranieri - totemle.com
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on December 30, 2018, with the headline 'FAS' media-rights partner begins bankruptcy process'. Print Edition | Subscribe
Headlines
High Stakes Gambler. People You Don't Bring to Las Vegas. 1:33 · 1,331,959 Views. White Belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. BJJ in a street fight 🤣🤣 Kit Dale.
What is another word for high-stakes gambler - WordHippo
Category Music; Song Keep You in Mind; Artist Guordan Banks; Album Keep You in Mind; Licensed to YouTube by Kobalt (AWAL Digital Limited), Vydia (on behalf of Bank On It Entertainment, LLC); Sony
Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish heroically scored the winning goal after he was attacked by a pitch invader during the Aston Villa's derby clash at Birmingham. The midfielder showed incredible
Watch: Villa's Grealish has last laugh after Birmingham fan
Football: Usual suspects in the frame for expanded Asian Cup South Korean national footballers training in Abu Dhabi on Dec 30, 2018, ahead of the 2019 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup
Soccer: Usual suspects in the frame at expanded Asian Cup
Tottenham not ready to win titles: Pochettino. Tottenham defender Kieran Trippier is disappointed after wasting a goalscoring chance against Crystal Palace in their 2-0 FA Cup fourth-round loss on
Tottenham not ready to win the Premier League!? - COL
Aguero penalty gives Man City 1-0 win over West Ham | Free
NEW YORK • Organisers of the Worldwide Champions Cup (ICC) - a high-profile summer time match for the world's largest soccer golf equipment - have determined to maintain Juventus and their star Cristiano Ronaldo away from the US this 12 months, eliminating the danger of the Portuguese being detained by authorities as a part of …
Ronaldo and Juventus Will Avoid U.S. Amid Rape Investigation
ROME: Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri confirmed on Friday Cristiano Ronaldo is an injury doubt for the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Ajax on April 10. Ronaldo, a five-time
Ronaldo 'risks missing' Champions League quarter-final first leg
* Everton at Spurs next, Burnley host Arsenal EVERTON 2 BURNLEY 0 May 3 (Reuters) - Everton bolstered their chances of qualifying for next season's Europa League with a 2-0 win over Burnley in the
Everton ease past Burnley to keep UEFA Europa League dream
Jurgen Klopp felt Mohamed Salah turned in a masterful all-round performance as he brought up 20 goals for the season in Liverpool's 3-0 win over Bournemouth.
Jurgen Klopp hails Liverpool's 'massive' points haul as he
Even that drab Slovenia match foreshadowed the revival stirring beneath the surface as it was a late Kane goal that sealed the points. Fast forward 13 months and another last-gasp Kane winner produced far more euphoria. "He is the best goalscorer in the world. You are always loath to take off a player of that ability," Southgate said.
Southgate urges England to make 2019 even better - Football
Football: Philippe Aw, Fadzuhasny Juraimi, to lead U-15 and U-18 Cubs at tournies. Former Hougang United head coach Philippe Aw (left) was named the head coach of the Under-15 team while former
Scottish Cup round-up: Dundee United knock St Mirren out as
sportslifetale.com/soccer/scottish-cup-round-up-dundee-united-knock-st-mirren-out-as-hibernian-cruise-into-quarters/
Football: Philippe Aw, Fadzuhasny Juraimi, to lead U-15 and U-18 Cubs at tournies. 01/18/2019. Soccer. Paul Pogba believes Raheem Sterling is sometimes treated
Home United snap Albirex Niigata's title-winning streak
sportslifetale.com/soccer/home-united-snap-albirex-niigatas-title-winning-streak/
The long trophy streak has, at long last, been broken. After hoovering up all 11 trophies on offer in the previous three seasons, Albirex Niigata finally tasted defeat when Home United triumphed 5-4 on penalties to lift the Community Shield last night as the new Singapore Premier League (SPL) season kicked off.
Singapore U15 and U18 to take part in Jockey Club
LONDON • In his biography, Brave New World, Mauricio Pochettino explains his belief in a concept called "energia universal" - the idea that people, places and things are charged with a hidden
Football: Pochettino's positivity propels pursuit of progress
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen