Official: Messi to face Real Madrid in the UCL Round of 16 after re-draw

The Champions League draw had scheduled a rather tasty PSG vs Manchester United fixture featuring Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo in the Round of 16, but the draw had to be scrapped following a technical error. An official statement was issued, saying:

“Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.“

The new draw has been concluded now, and it has Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain has the headlining fixture of the first knockout stages. Messi will face old rivals, Los Blancos, in the tie.

?? Paris vs Real Madrid ??#UCLdraw | #UCL pic.twitter.com/a3Bg6473ct

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 13, 2021

That tie will also see Sergio Ramos heading back to the Santiago Bernabeu after leaving on a free transfer this June.

Other fixtures in this draw include:

Inter Milan vs Liverpool
Villarreal vs Juventus
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United
Chelsea vs Lille
Benfica vs Ajax
Sporting vs Manchester City
Salzburg vs Bayern Munich