When is the Champions League last 16 draw, and when do the fixtures take place?

3 weeks ago 12

THE expanded Champions League has delighted and confused fans successful adjacent abundance truthful acold this season.

More teams and much matches – positive a league array to contend with – have near galore fans wondering what precisely is going on.

Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez celebrating a goal.

Liverpool are already into the chapeau for the Champions League Round of 16 gully – but volition person to hold to find retired who their opponents are[/caption]

The 2nd legs of the knockout signifier play-offs are presently taking spot close now.

But past what?

Here’s everything you request to cognize astir the Champions League Last 16 gully and stages.

When is the Champions League Last-16 signifier draw?

The main gully for the Champions League Last 16 signifier takes spot connected Friday, February 21.

Under the caller league array format, which has 36 teams, the apical 8 teams successful the array are automatically successful the Round of 16 and are seeded.

The bottommost 8 teams person been eliminated from European competition, with nary determination into the Europa League similar successful erstwhile years.

The adjacent 16 teams – those that finished betwixt 9th and 24th – person headed into the knockout play-offs.

New Champions League format is simply a snorefest

By Dan King

UEFA sold the thought of expanding the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams, with each playing 8 games alternatively of six successful the opening phase, arsenic a mode of creating much competitiveness and excitement.

The biggest clubs would person 2 matches against their peers, alternatively than having to hold until the knockout signifier to meet.

The smaller clubs would conscionable teams of a akin level doubly and person a accidental of tasting triumph that was truthful hard to execute if you were the bottommost effect successful a radical of four.

Ignoring for a infinitesimal the information that the existent information was the elemental equation of much games = much money, the mentation itself already looks flawed.

None of the matches betwixt European giants has delivered a compelling contention yet.

And wherefore would they? At the commencement of the agelong play with much matches successful it, wherefore would immoderate squad with ambitions to triumph things successful the spring, spell retired each guns blazing successful the autumn?

Especially erstwhile they cognize they person six games NOT against large sides to marque definite they accrue capable points to suffice astatine slightest for the play-off circular (and adjacent much games).

There is adjacent little jeopardy than before.

Read the afloat file connected the Champions League format neglect and wherefore everyone – including YOU – needs a rethink.

When does the Champions League knockout signifier play-offs instrumentality spot and erstwhile is the Round of 16?

Teams that finished successful the apical 8 and automatically reached the Round of 16 person a small spot of a hold connected their hands.

After the last league signifier crippled connected January 29, the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona volition not play their Champions League past 16 games until March.

Those fixtures are scheduled to instrumentality spot connected March 4-5 and 11-12.