Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City are some of the best seeds in the Champions League draw – but could all end up winning Barcelona.
The three Premier League giants will discover their last 16 opponents in Monday’s virtual draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland at 11 a.m.
Holders Bayern Munich are also among the seeds with Liverpool, Chelsea and City winning their groups, meaning they will avoid Serie A winners Juventus and French giant Paris St-Germain.
However, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will be two teams in the second pot that English clubs will want to avoid, but they could get either of the Spanish giants.
Bayern have already become favorites among most bookies, but City are ranked second in many quarters despite their recent disappointments in Europe under Pep Guardiola.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has not met Barcelona since their epic Champions League semi-final in 2019 when the Reds reversed a 3-0 defeat at Camp Nou before taking the trophy.
Chelsea can’t take Sevilla out of the second pot as they were in the same squad, but Frank Lampard will be keen to avoid a repeat of last season when they got Bayern in the round of 16 and made an early exit.
The first leg of the last 16 games will take place on February 16, 17, 23 and 24, the return leg on March 9, 10, 16 and 17. The quarter-final draw will take place on March 19.
–
