Champions League: after an imbroglio in the draw, PSG scoops Real Madrid and Lille will challenge Chelsea in the round of 16 – archyde

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A lucky draw… and a second a few hours later! This is rare, even in games of chance. On Monday December 13, in Nyon (Switzerland), the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) managed to miss its draw for the knockout stages of the Champions League. After conducting a full draw, where PSG faced Manchester United and defending defending Lille, Chelsea, the European body had to cancel it and organize a second later in the afternoon.

At the end of this second draw, Real Madrid were designated as opponents of Paris-Saint-Germain while Lille will face Chelsea – the only poster has not changed. The round of 16 first leg will be played over two weeks, on February 15 and 16, then on February 22 and 23, 2022. The return matches will be played on March 8 and 9, then on March 15 and 16, 2022.

The entire draw:

  • RB Salzburg-Bayen Munich
  • Sporting Portugal-Manchester City
  • Benfica-Ajax Amsterdam
  • Chelsea-Lille
  • Atlético de Madrid-Manchester United
  • Villarreal-Juventus Turin
  • Inter Milan-Liverpool
  • Paris Saint Germain-Real Madrid

A “material error”

Second in their group at the end of the preliminary phase, behind Manchester City, Paris-Saint-Germain knew they would suffer from a big opponent. Between Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Ajax Amsterdam, Real Madrid, Manchester United or Juventus Turin, the capital club had no choice but to prepare for a shock, all these potential opponents having won in at least twice the competition.

But from there to preparing for two different shocks in a few hours, no one could have anticipated …

Initially opposed to Manchester United, the Ile-de-France club thought it had left for a new edition of the “Messi – Ronaldo” clash. Under their new tunic both, the Argentinian and Portuguese players, who have been winning the Ballon d’Or since 2008 – with the exception of 2018, when Luka Modric came to intervene in their duel – should have faced each other in February and March.

It was without counting a “Material error” occurred during the first draw. In charge of shooting the balls, the former Russian international, Andrei Archavine, had placed Manchester United against Villarreal … while the two teams were members of the same group, and were not supposed to be able to face each other.

If the Manchester United ball was put back in the bowl (to be taken up as an opponent of PSG), Atlético de Madrid, who suffered from the Bavarian juggernaut, Bayern Munich, felt aggrieved for not having had the possibility of facing the Mancuniens. And filed an appeal, heard by the body of European football.

Real Madrid could challenge

After a few hours of confusion, the European football body recognized “A technical issue with software from an external service provider that tells officials which teams are eligible to play others”. The first draw was declared a draw.

At 3 p.m., the Champions League saw a new draw intervene. In this little game, Paris was scooped by Real Madrid. Two teams who know each other well, having already faced each other at this stage of the competition in 2018. At the time, Real de Sergio Ramos – who became Parisian this season – had won (3-1 to outward, 2-1 on the way back).

At the heart of a latent battle around the person of Kylian Mbappé – who did not hide this summer his inclinations to leave for the Spanish capital – the two teams may not consider themselves varnished from the new draw (Real had first received from Benfica Lisbon).

The Spanish club, spearheading the attempt to secede from the big European clubs in the spring, the Super League, and in open war with UEFA, could however consider a counter-attack after the blunder of the draw.

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Nothing changes for Lille

On two occasions, Lille suffered from Chelsea in the round of 16.

Having been given the worst possible opponent on two occasions, Lille could blame it on fate. But Jocelyn Gourvennec, LOSC coach, prefers to focus on the joy of playing in the round of 16. “It’s not at all a shame, it’s a magnificent poster. We will play the title holder, exposes the technician from Lille, questioned about the northern club website. We will be in the position of an outsider against a team that has evolved a lot since the last confrontation, a club with very large resources. “

The Lille had indeed crossed the road of the Blues in the fall of 2019. Christophe Galtier was at the time on the bench and the two games had ended in two defeats (1-2, both). Since then, if the Mastiffs have taken the bottle, notably winning the title of champion of France last year.

After having started badly in the group stage of European competition – two points in three games – the Lille have signed three victories in the last three games, to finish at the top of group G.

Read also Champions League: convincing, Lille invites itself to the European banquet

Chelsea, for their part, have changed a lot. Coached for less than a year by Thomas Tuchel, the former PSG coach, the London team won the last edition of the Champions League, beating Manchester City in the final.

“We did what it took to be here today. We will continue in the same state of mind in the round of 16, insists Gourvennec. And like from the start, we’re going to play everything at 300% because it’s wonderful to play these matches. “

Clement Martel