Five English Premier League teams made make it through to the last knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League for the first time after Liverpool secured qualification on Wednesday following a 7-0 spanking of Spartak Moscow in their final group game, making England the first country to have five teams in the competition's last 16 ahead of the December 11, 2017, draw in Nyon by 12:00 CET (11:00 Nigerian time).
Tottenham and Manchester City guaranteed top spots in their groups with a game to spare and Manchester United beat CSKA Moscow 2-1 on Tuesday to finish top of Group A. Chelsea also qualified for the last 16 but as runners-up in Group C after drawing 1-1 against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, missing out on top spot because of their head-to-head record against group winners Roma. This was also the first time the Premier League had five representatives in the group stage, United earning their place by winning the Europa League last season.
Draw procedure
Two seeding pots will be formed, one consisting of group winners and the other of runners-up. No team can play a club from their group or any side from their own association.
Seeded group winners will be away in the round of 16 first legs on 13/14 and 20/21 February and at home in the return matches on 6/7 and 13/14 March
Group winners: Manchester United (ENG), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Roma (ITA), Barcelona (ESP), Liverpool (ENG), Manchester City (ENG), Beşiktaş (TUR), Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
Group runners-up: Basel (SUI), Bayern München (GER), Chelsea (ENG), Juventus (ITA), Sevilla (ESP), Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR), Porto (POR), Real Madrid (ESP, holders)
Winning the group, as four of the English teams have, might seem an advantage but with three of Europe's best five clubs according to the Euro Club Index - Real Madrid, Bayern Munich
and Juventus - finishing second in their groups, tough draws are likely for some.
The big five European teams of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are obviously the ones to avoid, which is particularly bad news for Chelsea as they have only three possible opponents, two of which are Barcelona and PSG. The odds of the draw have predicted that Chelsea are the team Barcelona are most likely to face, whilst either Real Madrid or Sevilla could be paired with Italian giants Roma. For Real Madrid and Sevilla
there is the prospect of facing either Manchester United, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain. Los Blancos and the Andalusians enter Monday's draw as runner-up. Both clubs will play their first legs in the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan respectively.
City, meanwhile, continue their sensational form in both the Premier League and the Champions League.In Pep Guardiola's second season, few doubt that they have enough about them to wreck Madrid's dreams and to stop any opponent that stands in their way of European glory.
Drawing Manchester United would mean a return to the Santiago Bernabeu for Jose Mourinho, and a Liverpool side with Klopp has regained the prestige of yesteryear. Besiktas and Roma seem, on paper, lambs to the slaughter... and the most desired opponent compared to the other four possible rivals.
Potential draw for English teams
Liverpool (Group E winners): Basel, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk, Porto, Real Madrid
Manchester United (Group A winners): Bayern Munich, Juventus, Group E runners-up (if it is not Liverpool), Group F runners-up, Group G runners-up, Real Madrid.
Chelsea (Group C runners-up): Paris St-Germain, Barcelona, Group E winners (if it is not Liverpool), Besiktas.
Manchester City (Group F winners): Basel, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Group E runners-up (if it is not Liverpool), Group G runners-up, Real Madrid.
Tottenham (Group H winners): Basel, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Group E runners-up (if it not Liverpool), Group F runners-up, Group G runners-up.
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