Champions League - Liverpool face Manchester United’s conquerors

Liverpool will face Manchester United’s Champions League conquerors RB Leipzig in the last 16 next year.
What they are playing for: The Champions League trophy. Picture: APWhat they are playing for: The Champions League trophy. Picture: AP
What they are playing for: The Champions League trophy. Picture: AP

Jurgen Klopp’s side, who topped Group D in Europe’s premier club competition, will take on the German outfit who beat United 3-2 last week to claim a place in the knockout stage.

Manchester City will also face Bundesliga opposition in the shape of Borussia Monchengladbach, while the Premier League’s other remaining representatives, Chelsea, will take on Atletico Madrid.

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The tie of the round is arguably Barcelona v Paris St Germain.

The French side were finalists last season but will have bad memories of facing Barca in 2017, when their 4-0 first-leg lead was overturned in a dramatic 6-1 defeat at the Nou Camp.

Holders Bayern Munich will take on Italian side Lazio, while Cristiano Ronaldo returns to his native Portugal with Juventus to take on Porto.

Europa League holders Sevilla are up against Borussia Dortmund while 13-times winners Real Madrid take on Atalanta, who reached the quarter-finals last season.

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Guardiola failed to beat Gladbach in any of his last four Bundesliga meetings with them during his time as Bayern Munich coach, having won both encounters in his opening season in Bavaria in 2013-14.

However, he fared better when City faced Borussia in the group stage in 2016-17, his first year at the club, beating them 4-0 at the Etihad and drawing 1-1 in Germany.

The sides had also met in the previous season’s group stage, and their first head to head was in a UEFA Cup tie in 1979, when Gladbach won 4-2 on aggregate.

Liverpool have never faced Leipzig in a competitive match before, whereas Chelsea have faced Atleti seven times since 2009.

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Blues manager Frank Lampard scored in a 4-0 demolition of the Spanish capital club in a Champions League group stage meeting in October of that year, with the sides drawing 2-2 in Madrid.

Their next meeting was in August, 2012, when Chelsea as European champions lost to Atletico in the Super Cup.

The teams met in the semi-finals in 2013-14, with Atletico victorious before they lost to bitter rivals Real Madrid in the final.

The sides met again at the group stage in 2017-18, but the Blues have not tasted victory against Atletico since that meeting in October, 2009.

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Tottenham have been drawn against Wolfsberger in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Jose Mourinho’s side will head to Austria in February having won Group J.

Manchester United will head to Real Sociedad for the first leg of their last 32 tie, having been paired together after United were knocked out of the Champions League last week.

Arsenal will play Benfica with Mikel Arteta’s side having topped Group B.

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Rangers will play Royal Antwerp, with Steven Gerrard’s side having won Group D ahead of Benfica.

Leicester have been drawn against Slavia Prague in the last 32 and will travel to the Czech Republic for the first leg.

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