Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Champions League, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Aston Villa, Barcelona
Josh Lawless
Topics: Champions League, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Aston Villa, Barcelona
The Champions League round of 16 draw has been simulated, with Liverpool facing a horror tie despite topping the inaugural league table.
The Reds took 21 points from eight games - with their only defeat coming on the final matchday against PSV Eindhoven - and were one of three English sides to finish in the top eight and secure automatic qualification to the round of 16.
Arsenal and Aston Villa, along with Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Inter Milan and Lille, also both avoided a two-legged Champions League play-off which saw Manchester City eliminated following a 6-3 aggregate loss to 15-time European champions Real Madrid.
The holders were joined by Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, Borussia Dortmund and Club Brugge, who all advanced to the last 16 via the play-offs.
The draw is not random and was created based off the new seeding system from league standings, which sees the eight automatically-qualified teams placed in separate pairs - with Liverpool grouped with Barcelona (1st and 2nd), Arsenal with Inter Milan (3rd and 4th), Atletico Madrid with Bayer Leverkusen (5th and 6th) and Lille and Aston Villa (7th and 8th).
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With the bracket and route to the final mapped, each team only had two potential opponents from the round of 16 draw.
But how could the draw in Nyon, Switzerland play out? A simulation conducted by SPORTbible using drawsimulator.com produced a number of huge ties.
Liverpool were drawn against Paris Saint-Germain, with Arsenal taking on Feyenoord and Aston Villa coming up against Borussia Dortmund in the last 16.
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The simulation put Real against Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, with Benfica and Barcelona locking horns in a sequel to the stunning nine-goal thriller they played out in Lisbon in the group stage.
Club Brugge vs Lille and PSV vs Inter completes the simulated fixtures.
With the brackets being formed, each team will know their potential opponents for the quarter-final and semi-finals.
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But the teams from the top eight have been blocked from facing one side until the final - that being the other side in their pair.
Liverpool cannot play Barcelona until, with the same rule applying to Arsenal and Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen and Lille and Aston Villa.