The Independent
·31 January 2025
The Independent
·31 January 2025
The picture for the last-16 of the Champions League has become clearer after the draw for the knockout play-off round.
Arsenal did not always enjoy the easiest of Champions League campaigns but Mikel Arteta’s side safely made it through to the last-16 as one of the top eight seeds.
The Gunners required heroics from David Raya to earn a 0-0 draw in Atalanta before slipping to a 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan in the San Siro early on in the league phase.
But Arsenal’s excellent home form - with wins over Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk, Monaco and Dinamo Zagreb, to an aggregate score of 12-0 - ensured their safe passage to the last 16.
Arsenal’s secured third spot in the league standings by beating Girona away on the final day to ensure that they skip the play-off rounds, as Arteta’s side now await to find out who they could play in the last-16 in March.
The play-offs are now set and teams which finished 13th, 14th, 19th and 20th will now face off, with the two winners to be drawn against either Arsenal or Inter.
The Champions League play-offs take place across 11/12 and 18/19 February.
13th or 14th will be at home in the first leg, with 19th or 20th home in the second leg.
Arsenal will play the first leg of their last-16 match away from home on 4/5 March and then the second leg at the Emirates on 11/12 March.
Brest vs PSG - to play Liverpool or Barcelona in last-16
Monaco vs Benfica - to play Liverpool or Barcelona in last-16
Manchester City vs Real Madrid - to play Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in last-16
Celtic vs Bayern Munich - to play Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in last-16
Club Brugge vs Atalanta - to play Lille or Aston Villa in last-16
Sporting vs Borussia Dortmund - to play Lille or Aston Villa in last-16