Champions League draw explained with easy table to see potential opponents

The line-up for the Champions League round-of-16 has been completed, with Manchester City the biggest casualties from the play-off stage.

Pep Guardiola’s side finished 22nd in the initial league phase and were handed a brutal play-off match-up against reigning and record European champions Real Madrid.

Los Blancos downed City 6-3 on aggregate to ensure safe progression into the next round of the competition, where the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa join the knockout phase.

But who will be playing who?

Unlike previous years, all of the teams taking part in the round of 16 have already been seeded based on their finish in the league phase, leaving just two possible opponents for each club.

The top eight sides from the league phase – a cohort that includes all three remaining English teams – qualified directly for the last-16 and will be rewarded by having the second leg of their knockout tie at home.

They have also been paired with the team that finished either directly above or below them, depending on their final league position.

For example, Liverpool, who finished top have been matched with Barcelona, who ended the league phase second. Aston Villa on the other hand finished eighth, with their top eight pair being seventh-placed Lille.

Each pairing already knows their two possible opponents, with Friday’s draw set up to determine exactly who each team will play in the last-16.

The actual format of proceedings is familiar to previous UEFA draws, with balls put into a hat and pulled out one by one.

On top of deciding what fixtures will take place in the last-16, the draw will also finalise the quarter-final, semi-final and final pathway to Munich – this year’s final host city – for each of the remaining teams in the competition.

Depending on how the draw goes, it could – at least on paper – enhance a side’s chances of going deep in the competition.

For example, one potential outcome would see Liverpool drawn against PSG in the last-16, with a possible quarter-final versus fellow Premier League side Aston Villa and a semi-final with Real Madrid.

Whereas, should Arsenal be drawn on the opposite side of the bracket, Mikel Arteta’s side wouldn’t be able to meet any of those teams until the final at the very earliest.

The draw takes place at 11am on Friday.

Possible opponents for Premier League clubs:

Liverpool – Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica

Arsenal – PSV Eindhoven or Feyenoord

Aston Villa – Borussia Dortmund or Club Brugge