TheChampions Leaguelast-16 draw produced some intriguing ties, not least a repeat of last seasons final in the form of championsReal Madridagainst runners-upLiverpool.

Much can and likely will change between now and these matches taking place in February, but The Athleticsteam of experts have attempted to explain what it all means, assess whether the draw was good news for the four English clubs involved and to work out what the quarter-final line-up might look like.

What is the full Champions League last-16 draw?

Which tie are you most looking forward to?

Raphael Honigstein:Frankfurtv Napoli. For the stadium vibes and two of the group stages surprise successes taking each other on. (Also trying to get the office to send me to Frankfurt for the first leg, so best to talk it up a little here.)

James Horncastle:Seriously, Raph?! Youre not excited byParis Saint-Germain-Bayern? Im curious to see what impact theWorld Cuphas on Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.PSGare a team of rivals. The World Cup pits their three best players against each other. Will it divide them? PSG knocked Julian NagelsmannsRB Leipzigout of the Champions League in the 2020 semi-finals. Its a chance for him to set that right and make up for the disappointment of going out to Villarreal in last years quarters.

Nagelsmann will attempt to guide Bayern Munich into the quarter-finals but must navigate a repeat of the 2020 final, a match the Germans won (Photo: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Dermot Corrigan:Easy answer to this one from the Spanish capital Madrid and Liverpool know each other very well at this stage. Carlo Ancelottis side will be confident of progressing as they feel they have a psychological advantage over Jurgen Klopps men, even before Liverpools inconsistent start to 2022-23. As group winners, Madrid also get the return at the Bernabeu and another dramatic remontada second leg seems quite likely.

Oliver Kay:Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich. Theres always a certain intrigue when new money takes on European footballs aristocracy and for PSG, likeManchester City, winning the Champions League has become something of an odyssey over the past decade. Bayern cruised through the group stage in highly impressive style, but there are a few lingering questions about their progress under Nagelsmann. PSG represent such a different tactical challenge for him: they are so incisive going forward, with the individual brilliance of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar, but can Christophe Galtier find the right system to make them resilient when they lose possession? I could imagine PSG winning the first leg but then coming under serious pressure in the second leg in Munich. We have seen PSG perform so well, only to wilt under that kind of pressure away from home. It will be fascinating to see whether they are stronger this time.

Raphael Honigstein:Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting. The Cameroon international and PSG legend will be very much in-demand after going from backup striker to Bayerns leading man up front this season.

James Horncastle:Benfica! Wait, Bruges! No, Benfica! I mean, Bruges. The last 16 always throws up a tie like this one. This is a tie between well-run clubs who will fancy their chances of making the last eight. I cant help but think Napoli will be pleased, too. Frankfurt is a tough place to go but after beating Liverpool and Ajax and winning away toMilan,Atalantaand Roma inSerie A, Napoli fear nobody. As for Milan-Tottenham Im just glad we have a news line about both clubs that doesnt revolve around whether Japhet Tanganga is moving to San Siro. Its great to have Milan back at this stage for the first time in nine years. Milan are better than what theyve shown in this competition so far.

Dermot Corrigan:In the build-up to last years final, Ancelotti mentioned a few times he had enjoyed a rivalry with Liverpool during his time asEvertonmanager, and also pointed out how he had guided the Toffees to a rare victory at Anfield.

So Ancelotti will enjoy his return to Merseyside and a chance to reunite with the Everton fanbase (if not the clubs ownership).

Oliver Kay:Manchester City, not necessarily because theyre playing RB Leipzig but because so many of the other leading contenders have been drawn against each other. They were already the bookmakers favourites before the draw, closely followed by Bayern, PSG, Liverpool and Real. But two of those four teams wont make the quarter-finals now. All four of those teams had their odds lengthened after the draw. Citys were shortened. That speaks volumes.

If there is a surprise exit at this stage, it will be

Raphael Honigstein:Chelsea. Although its debatable how much of a surprise it would really be, considering their indifferent form in the league and slight wobble in the group stage.Dortmundwill probably be quite happy its Graham Potter rather than their former coach Thomas Tuchel on the bench as well, for all sorts of reasons. I expect them to go through and Todd Boehly to hire 17 new technical directors in response.

James Horncastle:Simone Inzaghi has madeIntercredible again in Europe. Hes the first Inter coach to qualify for the knockout stages in back-to-back years since Jose Mourinho. They gave Liverpool a run for their money last year and qualified atBarcelonas expense this year. But Inzaghis old team-mate Sergio Conceicao is the Serie A slayer. Porto qualified at Milans expense last season and eliminatedJuventusand Roma in recent knockouts. No one wants to go to the House of the Dragon!

Oliver Kay:Given the draw, Im not sure what would constitute a surprise. Leipzig beating Manchester City certainly would, but I really cant see that happening. Almost all the other ties are fairly well balanced. On current form (and indeed based on their past few meetings), I suppose Liverpool beating Real Madrid would be classed as a surprise. Im not saying thats what I think will happen, but it really cant be discounted. Liverpool have been so erratic at times this season, but that kind of challenge might bring out the best in them. At the very least the first leg at Anfield should be a night to savour.

Dermot Corrigan:Such a big break before the last 16 this year, including a World Cup and likely busy transfer market in between, means that the teams situations can change a lot between now and late February. So teams who look big favourites now might not when the actual ties come around. Napoli have been the revelation of the European season so far and at the moment look like big favourites against Eintracht Frankfurt. But theBundesligateam showed good European pedigree while winning last yearsEuropa League and in qualifying from a tricky group.

When I look back on my predictions for who would make the last 16, I think

James Horncastle in August:Liverpool, Napoli, Porto, Atletico, Bayern, Inter,Tottenham, Eintracht, Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Leipzig, Manchester City,Sevilla, PSG, Juve

James Horncastle now:I expected Benfica to be better coached under Roger Schmidt and thats no disrespect to caretaker boss NelsonVerissimo, who guided the club to a first Champions League quarter-final in six years in March. However, I did not expect Benfica to still be undefeated in all competitions and to have amassed 63 goals by November despite the sale ofDarwin Nunez. Staying in the same group, I knew Juventus were in for a tough time. But five defeats in six games, including the one away in Haifa, was shocking. Paul Pogbas injury, Federico Chiesas absence and Angel Di Marias intermittent availability were mitigating factors. Overall, though, the Old Lady leaves the competition humiliated and ashamed.

Raphael Honigstein in August:Liverpool, Ajax,Leverkusen, Atletico, Bayern, Inter, Tottenham, Frankfurt, Milan, Chelsea, Madrid, Leipzig, Man City, Sevilla, PSG, Juve

Raphael Honigstein now:I tipped Barcelona to fail in the group stage for a second time there was something about spending gazillions on new players of questionable repute that made them suspect in my eyes and suggested that Group D (Spurs, Frankfurt) would provide lots of drama but those rare correct predictions were offset by some bad misses. Atletico and Leverkusen both crashing out came as a huge surprise (to me), as did Juventus determination to go straight into the Europa League with Barcelona. I totally slept on Luciano Spallettis wonderful Napoli, too. Lastly, Im happy that I was wrong about Borussia Dortmund theyve saved some of their less convincing performances for the league.

Dermot Corriganin August:Napoli, Liverpool, Porto, Atletico, Bayern, Barca, Tottenham, Sporting, Milan, Chelsea, Madrid, Shakhtar, Manchester City, Dortmund, PSG, Juve.

Dermot Corrigan now:Amid the wave of optimism around Camp Nou following the arrival of Robert Lewandowski and company due to the summer of lever pulling, it seemed inconceivable Barca would struggle again. But they did and looking back now, Xavis side still have huge problems. Inter did not even have to look that impressive to deservedly eliminate them.

Atleticos woeful showing has also been coming; they have struggled every year recently in the groups. But even still, their inability to score against Bruges, or beat Leverkusen in either game, was pretty shocking.

Leipzig bounced back really well from their poor start to the season and were easily the second-best team in their group they deservedly beat an over-relaxed Madrid in Germany and could also easily have got a result at the Bernabeu, too.

James Horncastle:Manchester City, Benfica, Real Madrid, Milan, Napoli, Chelsea, Porto and Bayern

Raphael Honigstein:Frankfurt, Bayern, Dortmund, Liverpool, Benfica, Manchester City, Tottenham, Porto

Dermot Corrigan:Manchester City, Benfica, Real Madrid, Tottenham, Napoli, Chelsea, Porto and PSG

Oliver Kay:Manchester City, Benfica, Real Madrid, Tottenham, Napoli, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Im going to say PSG.

What does the draw mean for English clubs chances?

Liam Twomey:It would have been difficult for any Chelsea supporters to feel optimistic about their Champions League chances given recent results and the general mood around the start of the Graham Potter tenure and while Borussia Dortmund arent the most intimidating opponents possible, nor are they the most favourable draw.

But its worth casting the mind back to December 2021, when Chelsea were paired with an ascendant Atletico Madrid in the last 16. Frank Lampard was in his miserable final weeks as head coach and Diego Simeones men were top of La Liga. By the time the tie actually took place the following February, however, Atleticos momentum had slowed and Thomas Tuchel had quickly built a Champions League-winning foundation.

The point is that a lot can happen in two months. Chelseas injury situation should have improved by February, the January transfer window may bring further reinforcements courtesy of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital and Potter may be more comfortable in his new role. It will be hard for fans to have the same faith in him as they did in Tuchel, but he has the tools to win this tie and be a threat in this competition beyond.

If they are to do so, nullifying Jude Bellingham an emerging superstar admired by Chelsea and virtually every other major club in Europe will be a key priority.

James Pearce:Its not the draw Liverpool would have picked.Facing Porto or Benfica would have given Klopps side a greater chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

However, its a mouth-watering tie and Liverpool certainly have a score to settle against Champions League holders Real Madrid.

The memories of defeat in Mays final in Paris are still fresh. The hangover from that agonising night extended into the turbulent opening months of this season.

Off the field, there were chaotic scenes as supporters were failed by UEFA and the French authorities.

It was starting to crush. We were shaking: Special report on the horror of the Champions League final

On it, Liverpool faded badly after being repeatedly thwarted by the heroics of Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. There was no way back after Vinicius Junior had struck early in the second half. Mohamed Salah was denied six times by Courtois alone as Liverpools hopes of a seventh European crown were dashed.

Liverpool have failed to win any of the past six meetings between the clubs since their famous 4-0 demolition of Real at Anfield under Rafael Benitez in 2009.

There were two one-sided group-stage defeats overseen by Brendan Rodgers in 2014-15 and then the Champions League final heartache in Kyiv in 2018 when Loris Karius meltdown proved so costly.

Real dumped Klopps men out of the competition at the quarter-final stage 3-1 on aggregate in 2020-21. However, that was at a time when Liverpool were wrestling with a defensive injury crisis and games were being played behind closed doors due to the pandemic.

This time around Klopp will have the Anfield factor in his favour. It promises to be some occasion as they attempt to secure a lead to take to the second leg at the Bernabeu. With 20 European Cups between them, Liverpool will have revenge on their minds when two heavyweights are reunited in February.

Sam Lee:Its a good draw for City. OK, maybe they lose and if they did could you imagine the fuss about Pep Guardiolas Champions League curse?! But lets cross that bridge if we come to it. For now, all that can be said is that while it may look underwhelming for neutrals its not PSG it is a pretty attractive tie, but one that City should come through all the same.

They met in last seasons group stage and the aggregate score was 7-5 in Citys favour. The German side posed some problems, for sure, and in fact, when City drew 0-0 withSouthamptona few days after the home game, Saints then-manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said he had used broadly the same 4-2-2-2 approach, which causes problems for teams who like to have the ball.

Guardiola was extremely animated during that home game against Leipzig because he had drilled his players beforehand on how to combat their approach to pass backwards first in order to go forwards, dragging Leipzig in to break their press but too often this, and other instructions, werent carried out and Leipzig scored three times. Still, though, City managed to score six. In the away leg, with top spot already assured, Guardiola picked a very strong team but lost in a game played behind closed doors. City were very poor on that night but, presumably, they would have much more motivation in a knockout game than that dead rubber.

So Leipzig might expect to score a few goals, but its easy to imagine City scoring more. Especially as they haveErling Haaland.

Tim Spiers:For Spurs, its a draw to really whet the appetite. The obvious narrative will be Antonio Conte heading back to the San Siro and its fair to say a man who managed Inter Milan and Juventus wont exactly be welcomed with open arms by AC Milan supporters.

Conte left the San Siro a title winner with Inter and its Milan who took on that mantle last year but, while the name conjures up fearsome images of an Italian giant both at home and in Europe, they are still a name more than a team to be feared, despite that 2021-22 title success. Milan are a resurgent club, into the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2014 on the back of their first domestic title in 11 years, but Spurs, if they can recapture their best form under Conte (results have generally been good but performances have suffered as injuries have mounted), they will fancy their chances of just about edging what is likely to be a tight affair.

But thats the rub here; in three months both teams could look very different, with a World Cup and a transfer window to go before this tie is played. If the game took place right now Milan would probably be slight favourites, but Spurs will hope they haveRicharlison,Son Heung-minandDejan Kulusevskiall fit and firing by the middle of February. The only thing its safe to predict is that whatever happens between now and then, no one will relish this tie more than Conte.

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