Who Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Aston Villa could play next in the Champions League
Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa have learned their fates for the next stage of the Champions League following the conclusion of the league phase.
Liverpool had already guaranteed a top-eight spot and a place in the last-16 having won their first seven games in this year’s competition.
Arne Slot’s side fielded a heavily rotated side in their final game and the Reds ultimately fell to a 3-2 away defeat PSV Eindhoven.
Arsenal’s place in the top eight was all-but certain, but the Gunners made sure of their place in the knockouts with a 2-1 win against Girona.
And they were joined in the top eight by Aston Villa after Unai Emery’s side claimed a hard-earned 4-2 win at home against Celtic.
City, meanwhile, were staring down the barrel of a shock league-phase elimination, but Pep Guardiola’s side mounted a superb second-half comeback to win 3-1 against Club Brugge and sneak into the top 24.
Looking ahead to the next stage of the Champions League, here is who Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa could face.
Who could Arsenal play next in the Champions League?
Arsenal’s win against Girona saw the Gunners finish the league phase in third place with six wins from the eight games.
Arteta’s side, therefore, go straight through to the last-16 where they will face one of AC Milan, PSV, Feyernoord or Juventus.
Who could Man City play next in the Champions League?
Guardiola’s side lost three of their eight games in the league phase but a final gameweek win against Brugge meant they snuck through in 22nd place.
However, that means that City will have to navigate a two-legged playoff tie should they want to join Arsenal in the last-16.
City now face a mouthwatering playoff tie against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich and, should they win, will then come up against Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16.
Who could Liverpool play next in the Champions League?
Liverpool’s perfect run in this year’s Champions League came to an end as a second-string XI fell to a narrow defeat in Eindhoven.
But Barcelona’s 2-2 draw with Atalanta meant that Slot’s side still finished top of the table and Liverpool can now look forward to a last-16 tie against one of Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco or Brest.
Who could Aston Villa play next in the Champions League?
Aston Villa’s first campaign in Europe since 1983 has started superbly, with a 4-2 win against Celtic securing their place in the top eight.
Unai Emery’s side, therefore, join Arsenal and Liverpool automatically in the last-16 where they will face one of Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge.
When is the draw for the Champions League knockout phase play-offs?
The draw to finalise the Champions League knockout phase play-offs will be held on January 31.
The draw will take place 11am GMT and will be streamed live on UEFA’s website and on their official YouTube channel. It will also be live on TNT Sports 2.
When are the Champions League knockout phase play-offs?
The first legs of the knockout phase play-offs will be played on February 11 and February 12.
The return legs will be played the following week on either February 18 or February 19.
When is the Champions League round-of-16 draw?
The draws for the round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final will all take place on February 21.
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