Champions League - Exciting draw for Bayern: Mbappé & Co. possible again
After their dominant group win in the Champions League, FC Bayern are eagerly awaiting the draw for the round of 16. Following the conclusion of the group stage, there are six possible opponents for Munich in the first knockout round, including three from Italy. As group winners, the German soccer champions could be drawn against Italian champions SSC Napoli, last year's finalists Inter Milan or Lazio Roma next Monday (12.00 noon) at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon.
Another clash with Paris Saint-Germain is also possible. Bayern also beat France's top team led by star striker Kylian Mbappé, who finished second in Group F behind Borussia Dortmund, in the round of 16 last season. Bayern's other potential opponents are FC Porto and PSV Eindhoven. Group opponents FC Copenhagen and RB Leipzig were eliminated from the draw as Munich's opponents. A German clash would only be possible from the quarter-finals onwards.
"We've done our duty. Of course, we want to reach the quarter-finals now," Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said after the 1-0 win in the final group game at Manchester United on Tuesday: "Anyone can win the tournament from the quarter-finals onwards."
The round of 16 will be played in the new year. The first legs will take place on February 13/14/20/21, the second legs on March 5/6/12/13. As the group winners, Bayern will first play away from home.
The possible opponents:
PSV Eindhoven: The Dutch side are back in the knockout phase for the first time since the 2015/16 season. The league leaders from the Netherlands are captained by former Gladbach player Luuk de Jong. The team also includes Malik Tillman, who is on loan from Bayern. In eight European Cup matches, there have been six FCB wins, one draw and one PSV victory.
SSC Napoli: The Italian champions led by striker Victor Osimhen have fallen short of expectations this season and are currently only sixth in the table. Defender Minjae Kim would be reunited with his employers from last year. Bayern and Napoli have met four times in the European Cup so far.
Inter Milan: Last year's finalists were Munich's group opponents. Yann Sommer and Benjamin Pavard are two ex-Bayern players in the squad of the Italian league leaders. FCB have been the better team so far, with five wins from nine matches (one draw, three defeats).
Lazio Rome: The team led by top scorer Ciro Immobile is currently only tenth in the Italian table. Bayern and Lazio have met twice in the Champions League so far. The Munich side won both encounters in the round of 16 of the 2020/21 season.
Paris Saint-Germain: The PSG team led by superstar Kylian Mbappé is certainly not the opponent of choice. It would be a reunion for Munich with former Bayern record signing Lucas Hernández. Munich's overall record in the European Cup is eight wins to France's seven.
FC Porto: Portugal's champions, led by veteran defender Pepe, currently occupy second place in the league. FC Bayern and Porto have met seven times in the European Cup so far: Bayern won three games, the duel ended in a draw twice and the Portuguese team won twice.
Bayern squad group standings Season statistics Statistics handbook Champions League Round of 16 draw info
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- If FC Bayern Munich is drawn against SSC Napoli, defender Minjae Kim would face his former employers from last year in the Champions League round of 16.
- Paris Saint-Germain, led by star striker Kylian Mbappé, finished second in Group F behind Borussia Dortmund in this season's Champions League, making them a potential opponent for Bayern in the knockout stages.
- As group winners, FC Bayern could potentially face Lazio Rome in the round of 16 of the Champions League, with top scorer Ciro Immobile leading their attack.
- Bayern's possible opponents in the round of 16 of the Champions League include Italian champions SSC Napoli, last year's finalists Inter Milan, and Lazio Rome from Italy.
- FC Copenhagen and RB Leipzig were eliminated from the draw as potential opponents for FC Bayern in the Champions League round of 16, meaning a German clash would only be possible from the quarter-finals onwards.
- PSV Eindhoven is back in the Champions League knockout phase for the first time since the 2015/16 season, with former Gladbach player Luuk de Jong leading their attack and Malik Tillman on loan from Bayern.
- The Italian champions SSC Napoli, led by striker Victor Osimhen, have underperformed this season and are currently in sixth place in the table, but would still be a formidable opponent for Bayern in the Champions League round of 16.
- Bayern and Lazio Rome have met twice before in the Champions League, with the Munich side coming out on top in both encounters in the round of 16 of the 2020/21 season.
- If Bayern face Inter Milan in the Champions League round of 16, two ex-Bayern players, Yann Sommer and Benjamin Pavard, would be in their squad.
- FC Porto, led by veteran defender Pepe, would be another potential opponent for Bayern in the round of 16 of the Champions League, with a record of three wins, two draws, and two losses between the two teams in European Cup matches.
- Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel is optimistic about his side's chances in the Champions League round of 16, stating that "anyone can win the tournament from the quarter-finals onwards."
- Borussia Dortmund finished ahead of Paris Saint-Germain in Group F of this season's Champions League, meaning they will not be potential opponents for Bayern in the round of 16, but could meet in later stages of the tournament.
Source: www.stern.de
