Champions League draw: Real Madrid-Atlético Madrid, again

If they reach the semi-finals, Atlético or Real Madrid will play the first leg at home and the return leg away, while Barcelona would play the first leg at home and the return leg away, avoiding a possible Spanish rival until the final

Vista general del trofeo de la Liga de Campeones mientras se completa el sorteo en una pantalla gigante - REUTERS/ PIERRE ALBOUY — A general view of the Champions League trophy as the draw is completed on a giant screen - REUTERS/ PIERRE ALBOUY

Enrique Fernández

Updated: 21/02/25

Key dates for the 2025 Champions League:

The Champions League draw got off to a strong start, with Atlético de Madrid being drawn, which portended a clash with Real Madrid in the round of 16. A setback for the interests of the Spanish league, which is competing with the Italian Serie A for the possibility of obtaining a fifth place for access to the competition for the 2025-26 season.

<p>El secretario general adjunto de la UEFA, Giorgio Marchetti, es visto con el exfutbolista brasileño Giovane Elber y el anfitrión Pedro Pinto durante el sorteo  - REUTERS/ PIERRE ALBOUY</p> — UEFA deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti is seen with former Brazilian footballer Giovane Elber and host Pedro Pinto during the draw. **- REUTERS/ PIERRE ALBOUY**

Eight years later, Real Madrid and Atlético will face each other again in the world's most important club competition. Although all previous European Cup ties favour Madrid, who have won three knockout ties and two finals, this will be the first time that the two teams will play at the Estadio Metropolitano.

For its part, Fútbol Club Barcelona has experienced mixed feelings. The Catalan club, despite being the Spanish team that has had the best luck in the draw, avoiding the ‘bogeyman’, Paris Saint-Germain, will face Portuguese side Benfica, whom they already faced in the group stage, in a match full of controversy. However, if they go through to the next round, they will play the second leg of the quarter-final away from home against Borussia Dortmund of Germany or Lille of France. This means that Barça would not play a Spanish team until the final, which will be held on 31 May in Munich.

<p> El exfutbolista brasileño Giovane Elber posa con el trofeo de la Liga de Campeones después del sorteo finalizado  - REUTERS/ PIERRE ALBOUY</p> — Former Brazilian footballer Giovane Elber poses with the Champions League trophy after the draw was completed  **- REUTERS/ PIERRE ALBOUY**

The other bombshell of the draw is PSG-Liverpool. The English club, which dominated the first phase of the Champions League, will face one of the most complicated teams, Luis Enrique's PSG, one of the most in-form teams in the Champions League. The first leg will be played in Paris and the return leg at Anfield. One of these two teams could be Atlético or Real Madrid's rival in the semi-finals.

In addition to the clashes between Spanish teams and the PSG-Liverpool bombshell, the draw paired Belgian side Club Brugge with English side Aston Villa and the aforementioned Borussia Dortmund and Lille. If Unai Emery's Aston Villa go through to the quarter-finals, they will face the winner of PSG-Liverpool. On the other hand, Borussia and Lille will play a very even tie that would lead to a duel against the winner of Barça-Benfica.

<p>El exfutbolista brasileño Giovane Elber sortea ante el FC Barcelona  - REUTERS/ PIERRE ALBOUY</p> — Ex-Brazilian footballer Giovane Elber draws in front of FC Barcelona  **- REUTERS/ PIERRE ALBOUY**

On the other hand, the draw left a pairing between the two best teams in Germany: Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen will play for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with the return leg in Leverkusen, which could be decisive. The winner of this German duel will face the winner of Feyenoord-Inter in the quarter-finals. The Dutch team will return to the San Siro after the tie with AC Milan.

The fixtures are as follows: Bayern Munich vs. Leverkusen; Benfica vs. Barcelona; Feyenoord vs. Inter; Real Madrid vs. Atlético de Madrid; PSV vs. Arsenal; PSG vs. Liverpool; Dortmund vs. Lille; and Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa.