So much for Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo. The Champions League draw had to be redone after UEFA cited a "technical problem with the software" that resulted in errors. The new draw took place three hours later.
After the first draw produced eight matchups which included Messi's PSG against Ronaldo's Manchester United, the new draw paired PSG against Messi's eternal foe Real Madrid.
The issues were the first draw came up on live TV after Manchester United was erroneously included in a pot for the draw of Villarreal's opponent. But based on tournament rules, those teams weren't permitted to face each other in the Round of 16 after competing in the same group.
Erro no sorteio da #UCL ao tirar o Manchester United para enfrentar o Villarreal, equipas do mesmo grupo 😳pic.twitter.com/oWILw56wyE
— Cabine Desportiva (@CabineSport) December 13, 2021
Manchester United was also not included in the draw for Atletico Madrid's Round of 16 opponent because "it was already drawn" when it actually should have been in the pot. Here's UEFA Deputy General Secretary erroneously excluding Man United:
Clubs involved in Champions League draw mistake are in direct contact with Uefa to clarify the situation. Still waiting for final decision. 🔴 #UCL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 13, 2021
This is what happened, via @mjcritchley ⤵️pic.twitter.com/zlFxP7C8OO
Given the mistakes that impacted the draw, UEFA declared the results of the first draw void and redid the entire thing.
Real Madrid was forced to exchange Benfica for a matchup against PSG, Messi and ex-Madrid captain Sergio Ramos. Atletico Madrid, which went as far as making an appeal to UEFA requesting a solution to the original issue, swapped Bayern Munich for Manchester United.
Below are the results of the second version of the Round of 16 draw which will stand:
| Match | Home team - 1st leg | Home team - 2nd leg | |
| 1 | RB Salzburg | vs | Bayern Munich |
| 2 | Sporting CP | vs | Manchester City |
| 3 | Benfica | vs | Ajax |
| 4 | Chelsea | vs | LOSC Lille |
| 5 | Atletico Madrid | vs | Manchester United |
| 6 | Villarreal | vs | Juventus |
| 7 | Inter Milan | vs | Liverpool |
| 8 | PSG | vs | Real Madrid |
Compare those pairings to the original draw, which was scratched:
| Match | Home team - 1st leg | Home team - 2nd leg | |
| 1 | Benfica | vs | Real Madrid |
| 2 | Villarreal CF | vs | Manchester City |
| 3 | Atletico Madrid | vs | Bayern Munich |
| 4 | RB Salzburg | vs | Liverpool |
| 5 | Inter Milan | vs | Ajax |
| 6 | Sporting CP | vs | Juventus |
| 7 | Chelsea | vs | LOSC Lille |
| 8 | Paris Saint-Germain | vs | Manchester United |
Champions League Round of 16 teams
Here are the clubs that clinched berths into the Round of 16. The table makes it clear which advanced as group winners and which are group runners-up.
MORE: How the Europa League playoff draw works
Reminder: Teams from the same country or group could not be drawn against one another in the Round of 16 (Ex. Man City and PSG cannot meet in the Round of 16). Those conditions do not apply to the quarterfinal draw.
| Group | Pot A (Group Winners) | Pot B (Runners-up) |
|---|---|---|
| Grp A | Manchester City | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Grp B | Liverpool | Atletico Madrid |
| Grp C | Ajax | Sporting CP |
| Grp D | Real Madrid | Inter Milan |
| Grp E | Bayern Munich | Benfica |
| Grp F | Manchester United | Villarreal |
| Grp G | LOSC Lille | RB Salzburg |
| Grp H | Juventus | Chelsea |
The eight series will be played over two legs held three weeks apart with the team that scores the most goals over the two matches advancing to the quarterfinals.
For the first time since 1965, the away goals tiebreaker is no longer in use should any of the Round of 16 series finish tied after the 180 minutes of action. Instead, teams will head straight to 30 minutes of extra time and a penalty-kick shootout, if necessary.
Champions League Round of 16 teams by country
Here are the teams grouped by country in case you weren't familiar with the nations where each club is based.
MORE: Final Ballon d'Or voting totals
Reminder: Teams from the same country could not be drawn in the Round of 16. This rule does not apply to the quarterfinal draw.
| Nation | Total Clubs | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| England | 4 | Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City |
| Spain | 3 | Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal |
| France | 2 | Paris Saint-Germain, LOSC Lille |
| Italy | 2 | Inter Milan, Juventus |
| Portugal | 2 | Sporting CP, Benfica |
| Austria | 1 | RB Salzburg |
| Germany | 1 | Bayern Munich |
| Netherlands | 1 | Ajax Amsterdam |
Champions League Round of 16 schedule
The Round of 16 matchups take place over two legs that are scheduled three weeks apart. The eight series are not played on the same day with governing body UEFA instead spreading them out over several matchdays (see schedule below).
The group runners-up will be the home team in the first leg and the group winners will host the second leg of each Round of 16 series. This is perceived to be a reward for the group winner because, if an extra-time session or penalty-kick shootout is needed after Leg 2, it would happen on home soil.
Round of 16, 1st Legs
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | TV channels | Stream |
| Feb. 15 | Round of 16 #1 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| Feb. 15 | Round of 16 #2 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| Feb. 16 | Round of 16 #3 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| Feb. 16 | Round of 16 #4 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| Feb. 22 | Round of 16 #5 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| Feb. 22 | Round of 16 #6 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| Feb. 23 | Round of 16 #7 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| Feb. 23 | Round of 16 #8 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
Round of 16, 2nd Legs
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | TV channels | Stream |
| March 8 | Round of 16 #1 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| March 8 | Round of 16 #2 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| March 9 | Round of 16 #3 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| March 9 | Round of 16 #4 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| March 15 | Round of 16 #5 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| March 15 | Round of 16 #6 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| March 16 | Round of 16 #7 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
| March 16 | Round of 16 #8 | 3 p.m. | TBD | fuboTV, Paramount+ |
Champions League Quarterfinals, Semis & Final
After the Round of 16 survivors are determined in March, there will be a quarterfinal draw held on Friday, March 18 that will also establish the rest of the bracket through to the final. There are no seedings involved in that draw, and unlike the Round of 16, teams from the same country can be drawn against one another.
The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played with the same rules as the Round of 16: The team with the most aggregate goals after two legs advances. If teams are tied after the second leg, they will play 30 minutes of extra time, and if the deadlock persists, a penalty kick shootout will determine the winner. The away goals tiebreaker is no longer in use.
- Quarterfinals: April 5-6, April 12-13
- Semifinals: April 26-27, May 3-4
- Final: May 28, 2022 (Saint Petersburg, Russia)
How to watch Champions League Re-Draw
- Date: Monday, Dec. 13
- Time: 9 a.m. ET
- TV Channel (USA): TUDN
- Streaming (USA): fuboTV, Paramount+, CBS Sports HQ, TUDN app
- Streaming (Canada): DAZN
TUDN will carry live coverage of the Champions League re-draw in the USA and that channel is available to stream on fuboTV (free 7-day trial for new users). CBS Sports coverage of the draw will stream live on Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ in the USA.
DAZN will stream of the Champions League draw in Canada.
