The prestigious UEFA Champions League returns today with Spanish and French powerhouse, Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain, slugging it out for a quarter-final ticket.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid side will head to the Parc des Princes to face Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday night.
The fixture promises to be a goal-fest with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Vinicious Jr, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, amongst others, in both teams’ star-studded squads.
While attention will be on Mbappe who could switch to the Bernabeau side for free at the end of this season, the likes of Neymar, Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy who are just recovering from respective injuries.
Madrid will also be wear of the return of their former players, Keylor Navas and Sergio Ramos whose presence could be vital for the French side tonight and the second leg at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 9.
Meanwhile, Premier League Champions, Manchester City will continue their quest for their first-ever UCL trophy when they travel to Portugal to face Portuguese powerhouse, Sporting CP, in the second match today.
Pep Guardiola’s side will be looking to avoid an upset tonight in their quest for their first European silverware after last season’s disappointment in the final.
The Citizens were defeated 1-0 in the UCL final by fellow EPL side, Chelsea, who were recently crowned world champions, in the past.
See the full Round of 16 fixtures below:
First-leg fixtures
Tuesday February 15
Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid
Sporting Lisbon vs Manchester City
Wednesday February 16
Inter Milan vs Liverpool
Red Bull Salzburg vs Bayern Munich
Tuesday February 22
Chelsea vs Lille
Villarreal vs Juventus
Wednesday February 23
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United
Benfica vs Ajax
Second-leg fixtures
Tuesday March 8
Bayern Munich vs Red Bull Salzburg
Liverpool vs Inter Milan
Wednesday March 9
Manchester City vs Sporting Lisbon
Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain
Tuesday March 15
Ajax vs Benfica
Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid
Wednesday March 16
Juventus vs Villarreal
Lille vs Chelsea
Quarter-finals
Draw scheduled to take place on Friday March 18, according to Sky Sports.
First legs scheduled to be played on Tuesday April 5 and Wednesday April 6; Second legs on Tuesday April 12 and Wednesday April 13.
Semi-finals
Draw scheduled to take place on Friday March 18.
First legs scheduled to be played on Tuesday April 26 and Wednesday April 27; Second legs on Tuesday May 3 and Wednesday May 4.
Final
Scheduled to be played on Saturday May 28 at Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg.
