Champions League Round of 16 draw results after initial mistake

December 13, 2021

A technical error saw UEFA declare the original Champions League last-16 draw void; Manchester United were down to face Paris Saint-Germain but will now take on Atletico; re-draw also leads to PSG vs Real Madrid; Liverpool play Inter, Man City draw Sporting Lisbon, Chelsea face Lille

A surprise turn of events saw the initial last-16 draw declared void after what UEFA called a “technical error” involving Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United.

The re-draw took place three hours later, and Liverpool now face Serie A champions Inter Milan, Chelsea drew Ligue 1 winners Lille – having done so in the first draw as well – while Manchester City will take on Sporting Lisbon.

United looked to have been offered the biggest reprieve after drawing PSG in the initial draw, but a meeting with Atletico in European competition since 1991 will still provide a stern test.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid will perhaps feel the most aggrieved by the error – they were drawn against Benfica in the morning but will now face PSG instead.

Elsewhere, Liverpool’s reward for becoming the first English side to win all six Champions League group games is a tie with Inter, who won Serie A last season and currently top the table after 17 games.

It was a case of deja vu for defending champions Chelsea, who were drawn against Lille in both the original and rescheduled draw.

City, last season’s losing finalists, face Sporting for the first time since the two sides met in the Europa League nine years ago.