PSG gets Real Madrid, Man Utd vs Atletico in revised Champions League last-16 draw

PARIS Saint-Germain (PSG) will face Real Madrid in a titanic clash in the last 16 of the Champions League while Manchester United takes on Atletico Madrid after the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) declared the original draw void due to a technical error in the process on Monday.

Earlier, United was mistakenly drawn with Villarreal, even though both teams had already faced each other in the group stage while the Premier League side’s ball was not added to the bowl as a potential opponent for Atletico Madrid.

United was eventually drawn with PSG, Real drew Benfica, while Atletico drew Bayern Munich before the draw was scrapped after the Spanish side complained and UEFA admitted the error caused by a “technical problem with the software.”

“It was surprising, unfortunate and very difficult to understand what happened… Millions of people were waiting for the draw,” Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno told the club’s television channel.

“Having said that, we go into this tie with a lot of excitement… We’re also aware of the difficulties, with the quality of players (PSG) has. We believe the team will play two great games, they’ll be fantastic for football.”

PSG’s initial draw with United was a much anticipated battle between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi — the competition’s two top goal scorers and winners of 12 of the last 13 Ballon d’Or awards, with Messi leading 7-5 after victory in 2021.

Instead, Messi will now face a familiar opponent in Real Madrid, against whom he has scored 26 times in all competitions when he was at Barcelona. Real Madrid had also attempted to prise French forward Kylian Mbappe from PSG in the close season, but ultimately failed after the Ligue 1 side rejected their bids.

United’s Ronaldo, meanwhile, will relish a tie against Spanish champion Atletico having scored 25 goals against them for Real and Juventus.

‘THEY HAD TO DO IT AGAIN’
Liverpool takes on Inter Milan with another trip to the San Siro after Jurgen Klopp’s side beat AC Milan twice in the group stage.

“I had to wait 54 years to play at the San Siro for the first time… and now it’ll be twice in three months, so that’s good news,” Klopp told the Liverpool website. — Reuters