Two of the last three Champions League finals will be repeated in February thanks to the draw for the last 16. A competition that produced quirky pacesetters and sunk some traditional heavyweights in this season’s group stage has now crammed four of the favourites into two ties. The rest can look at this European Cup and see it as refreshingly open.
For the favourites, Manchester City, the draw seemed kind once theirs was the second name drawn from the glass bowls at Uefa headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. RB Leipzig, beaten 6-3 by City last season, had been the first.
City will be wary of their first-leg trip to East Germany, where they lost in the 2021-22 group phase, but by the time Monday’s ceremony was over, City can only have appreciated the fact that at least two of their chief challengers for the title will not make it into the last eight.
Liverpool, City’s fiercest domestic rivals over the last five years, must play holders Real Madrid. Ambitious Paris Saint-Germain will meanwhile duke out a quarter-final berth with Bayern Munich.
Bayern defeated PSG 1-0 in the final in 2020. Liverpool and Madrid have become agonisingly familiar: They contested the 2018 final, a 3-1 Madrid triumph; Madrid then knocked out Liverpool in the last-eight stage in 2021. Madrid won again in the Paris final six months ago, a Vinicius Junior strike and the excellent goalkeeping of Thibaut Courtois consigning Liverpool to defeat.
But the anxious frown on the face of Emilio Butragueno, the former Madrid centre-forward and the club’s delegate in Nyon, as soon as the former Madrid midfielder, Hamit Altintop – ambassador for the competition’s Istanbul final – drew Liverpool and Madrid together told a story.
Real 1 Liverpool 0: Champions League final ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. The Brazilian had little to do but got into a muddle for the disallowed goal. Some of his expeditions out of his area verged on erratic. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6. The 23-year-old had a few good moments but was not as influential as usual. If he had checked over his shoulder, it might have been possible to stop the winning goal. Getty -
Ibrahima Konate - 8. This was the Frenchman’s best performance in a red shirt. He was strong in the tackle and quick to snuff out danger. His one questionable moment was before the disallowed goal and he was saved by VAR. AP -
Virgil van Dijk - 7. The Dutchman was powerful and composed and tried to spark attacks when on the ball. He was rarely in trouble but got dragged a little wide before the goal. AP -
Andrew Robertson - 6. The Scot tried to get forward but his crossing was erratic. His link-up play on the left with Diaz did not work as well as usual. AP -
Jordan Henderson - 7. The captain worked effectively in midfield and tried to move the ball quickly when in possession. He was withdrawn for Keita in the 77th minute as Liverpool chased a goal. EPA -
Fabinho - 6. The Brazilian stamped his authority on the midfield early on and ensured his team were on top for most of the game. He did not contribute much going forward. AFP -
Thiago Alcantara - 6. The 31-year-old was an injury worry before the game and did not look quite right even though his passing was neat. He was replaced by Firmino with 13 minutes to go. Reuters -
Mohamed Salah - 7. The Egyptian was marginalised in the first half but threatened after the break. Some of his shots lacked precision but he was unlucky to be foiled by the brilliance of Courtois. Getty -
Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese hit the post and caused Real some alarm. He was the victim of some rugged defending. EPA -
Luis Diaz - 5. The Colombian had an off night and lost his contest with Carvajal. Jota came on for him in the 65th minute. Getty -
SUBS: Diogo Jota (Diaz 65') - 6. The Portuguese was an upgrade on Diaz but was unable to beat Courtois. He was swamped by a blanket defence. Getty -
Naby Keita (Henderson 77') - 5. He showed for the ball but never looked like turning the match Liverpool’s way. AP -
Roberto Firmino (Thiago 77') - 6. The Brazilian produced some clever touches but they were not enough to change the course of the game. Getty -
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 10. One of the great Champions League final performances, the Belgian produced save after save, including six from Salah alone, to guide Real Madrid to victory. Getty -
Dani Carvajal - 8. Had the unenviable task of marking Diaz but stood firm, won his battle with the Colombian, and played a key role in Madrid's clean sheet. AP -
Eder Militao - 8. Won 100 per cent of his aerial duels and both attempted tackles while also making three successful interceptions, the Brazilian was a rock amid relentless Liverpool attacks. AP -
David Alaba - 8. The Austrian was superb alongside Militao, winning four out of five ground duels, making four successful tackles, three interceptions, and three blocked shots. What an incredible free transfer Alaba has turned out to be. Reuters -
Ferland Mendy - 8. Had his hands full defensively against Salah but the Frenchman was excellent on the ball, achieving a 97 per cent passing accuracy and won 100 per cent of his one-on-one duels. AP -
Luka Modric - 7. Played a key role in the build-up to the goal and celebrated the Champions League triumph by announcing he had signed a new contract. A fifth European Cup for the ageless Croatian. Reuters -
Casemiro - 9. Superb from the Brazilian who delivered a vintage defensive midfield display, winning 5/5 aerial duels, 8/11 ground duels, and four tackles, as well as six ball recoveries. Getty -
Toni Kroos - 7. Quiet in the first half but grew into the game after the break, achieving 93 per cent passing accuracy including 100 per cent of his 11 attempted long balls. Getty -
Federico Valverde - 8. Preferred to Rodrygo on the right wing and it proved the right move from Carlo Ancelotti after the Spaniard played the killer pass for Vinicius Jr's winning goal. Beyond the assist, Valverde had a good game. AP -
Karim Benzema - 7. Capped a sensational season by winning a fifth Champions League title. There was to be no final goalscoring heroics but surely Benzema is headed for the Ballon d'Or. EPA -
Vinicius Junior - 9. A constant threat down Madrid's left flank and popped up with the game-winning goal. Vinicius finished the season with 22 goals and 20 assists. Getty -
SUBS: Eduardo Camavinga (Valverde 85') - N/A. Brought on for the final five minutes to help Madrid over the line. AP -
Dani Ceballos (Modric 90') - N/A. Provided fresh legs for injury time. Getty -
Rodrygo (Vinicius 90'+3) - N/A. AFP
The Spanish champions will be concerned, however irregular Liverpool’s recent form has been. Madrid recall how tight the Paris final was, and how the steady trail of recent collisions with Liverpool generates a fierce desire at Anfield to make amends.
With a World Cup soon to grab the attention and sap some of the energies of leading players, Butragueno and Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti also fear that the likes of Croatia’s Luka Modric, France’s Karim Benzema and Germany’s Toni Kroos will come into 2023 tired from their exertions in Qatar.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, by contrast, has no World Cup in his diary. He should go into the new year fit, fresh and with a sense of his own gathering momentum.
Salah’s brace in the weekend’s 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur carried him to nine goals from his last eight matches. He scored seven times in Liverpool’s six group games in the Champions League, the major trophy his club are targeting, given that a tilt for the Premier League, from 15 points behind leaders Arsenal, seems unlikely.
PSG, impatient to add a first European Cup to their honours board and unsparing in their investment on players capable of seizing that trophy, are confronted with a Bayern who swept aside Barcelona and Inter Milan to extend their record of unbeaten group-phase games to 34.
PSG face a set of Champions League experts. But the last meeting, a quarter-final two seasons ago, finished narrowly in favour of the French champions. Since then Lionel Messi has joined them, and, this season, blossomed in their colours.
Juventus 1 PSG 2: player ratings
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JUVENTUS RATINGS: Wojciech Szczesny 5 – Will probably feel he could have done better with both goals. Mbappe’s was hit well, and into the corner, but the Pole seemed slow to react. Mendes’ effort managed to squeeze through from a tight angle. AFP -
Leonardo Bonucci 7 – The veteran defender was furious that Mbappe had been allowed to score, and he let those around him know. The skipper then pulled his side level when he slid home to convert Cuadrado’s diving header, his first Champions league goal in almost six years. AP -
Federico Gatti 6 – Was turned far too easily by Mbappe for the opener. He even tried to foul the Frenchman, to no avail. Was booked soon after. He did, however, make a thumping challenge on Mbappe before the break that was cheered by the home crowd, and his intensity continued throughout. AP -
Sandro 6 – Tried his best get the ball moving forward throughout. Saw one effort on goal drift high and wide. AP -
Juan Cuadrado 6 – The former Chelsea man got forward as often as he could and came close with two efforts in the first half before a stooping diving header enabled Bonucci to bundle home to level. Got into great areas, but his decision making often let him down. AFP -
Adrien Rabiot 5 – Started the second half stronger than he finished the first, but will be disappointed with his contribution against his former club. Getty -
Manuel Locatelli 7 – The pick of the Juve midfielders. He had the first effort of the night, a shot from range on the half volley, but it curved wide. Soon after, he curled another effort just wide of the post. Was always scheming, and caused the opposition problems. Getty -
Nicolo Fagioli 8 – Linked well with those around him and looked comfortable on the ball. He created numerous chances for others. Weston Mckennie may be worried about his place in the starting line-up on tonight’s evidence. AFP -
Filip Kostic 5 – Combined well with Miretti to create a shooting opportunity in the first half, but this was one of the quieter performances in the home side. Reuters -
Fabio Miretti 7 – Had plenty of efforts on goal throughout the game, but found either Marquinhos or Donnarumma in the way, or saw his radar slightly off target. A constant threat throughout, which made it a surprise when he was substituted. AFP -
Arkadiusz Milik 6 – The Polish striker had the first effort of the game, which was blocked. He showed some nice holdup play throughout, and quite often brought others into play for shooting opportunities around the box. AFP -
SUBS: Federico Chiesa (Miretti, 74) N/A Made his presence felt pretty quickly by setting up Kostic to shoot at goal. AFP -
Matias Soule (Locatelli, 85) N/A – The 19-year-old will have relished his five-minute cameo. Looked lively. AP -
Enzo Barrenechea (Cuadrado, 88) N/A – Not a bad game for the Argentine to make his debut. EPA -
Tommaso Barbieri (Fagioli, 88) N/A – An official debut for Barbieri, though didn’t have much time to make an impact. EPA -
PSG RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma 6 – His first main contribution was to pick the ball out of his net. He didn’t do a lot wrong but owed much to those in front of him, and Juve’s wayward shooting, for a quiet night AFP -
Achraf Hakimi 5 – Still unable to find his top form, he was on the periphery for much of this encounter. Getty -
Marquinhos 8 – So often in the right place at the right time, he once put his body on the line to expertly deny Miretti inside the box. Solid performance, particularly with his side facing so much pressure in the first 45. Getty -
Sergio Ramos 7 – Formed a solid partnership with Marquinhos in the first half, and later popped up with an effort at the other end which was saved by Szczesny. Reuters -
Juan Bernat 5 – Poor display, with Juve allowed to dominate some of the midfield areas. He was upstaged by his replacement immediately. AFP -
Carlos Soler 5 – Another player who went missing in the first half as PSG soaked up the pressure. Didn’t improve after the break, and was replaced. Getty -
Marco Verratti 5 – The Frenchman was a beast when these two sides last met but he couldn’t replicate that form on this occasion. Struggled to get into the game. AFP -
Fabian Ruiz 5 – The Spaniard never recovered from a heavy challenge from behind by Rabiot, and he was substituted after just 20 minutes. AFP -
Vitinha 5 – A quiet first half as Juve had the better of it. His main contribution was to give a foul away. When he did have the ball, it rarely went forward. AFP -
Kylian Mbappe 8 – Scored one and made the other. He opened the scoring with an outrageously lethal finish, his seventh Champions League goal of the season. Later, his assist to Mendes was a perfectly weighted pass. Potent when on the ball. EPA -
Lionel Messi 7 – Another game, another assist, this time providing a firm pass to Mbappe who, with plenty left to do, found the net. The two combined multiple times throughout. AFP -
SUBS: Renato Sanches (Ruiz, 21) 5 – Like most of his midfield cohorts, struggled to get the better of the opposition, and saved only by the lethal finishing of Mbappe and Mendes. EPA -
Hugo Ekitike (Soler, 68) 5 – Didn’t cause the Juve defence too many problems. AFP -
Nuno Mendes (Bernat, 68) 8 – What an introduction! Within a minute of coming home, he’d scored with his left foot to put the visitors ahead. Danilo Pereira (Verratti, 88) n/a – Had to wait for his chance, and had few opportunities to get on the ball. AFP
Tottenham must play AC Milan, a resonant date for Spurs manager Antonio Conte, given his past as player and coach at Juventus, and, more recently, his time in charge of Inter. Vibrant Napoli will feel relatively blessed at having drawn Eintracht Frankfurt, newcomers to the knockout phase, as are Brugge, of Belgium, who play in-form Benfica.
Porto meet Inter, a special fixture for Porto’s manager Sergio Conceicao, a former Inter winger. Chelsea are paired with Borussia Dortmund, former employer of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Christian Pulisic, two of the men charged with sharpening the 2021 European champions’ waning firepower.
Best tie of the calendar? There’s a case for suggesting it may be neither the one played out between Anfield and the Bernabeu, nor in Paris and Munich, but rather the standout clash from the play-offs for the last 16 of the Europa League, also drawn in Nyon: Barcelona versus Manchester United.
A dozen years ago, United and Barcelona were used to contesting Champions League finals against each other even more frequently than Real Madrid and Liverpool do.
They now find themselves in Uefa’s second tier, where they meet over two legs in February. It’s a collision that should persuade United’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Barca’s Robert Lewandowksi that, while Europa League football feels to them like a step down, to the combined 170,000 who fill up Camp Nou and Old Trafford, this feels like a true clash of heavyweights.
Marseille 1 Tottenham 2: player ratings
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MARSEILLE RATINGS: Pau Lopez 6: Bar a couple of punches away, the Spanish goalkeeper was not called into action until first-half injury-time when he tipped Kane's shot over. Important hand on low Bentacur cross with Kane lurking at start of second half. No chance with either Spurs goal. AP -
Chancel Mbemba 8: Powerful defender caught Son with shoulder in first half that saw South Korean forced off injured. Played almost like an attacking midfielder in the first half and headed Marseille into the lead. Impeccable sliding tackle to take the ball off Kane late in the game. EPA -
Eric Bailly N/A: Defender on loan from Manchester United saw his old injury woes resurface and lasted less than 10 minutes before limping off. AP -
Leonardo Balerdi 7: Not tested in opening half but was impressive at the back as Spurs offered some threat in the second period. Picked up a silly booking for barging over Emerson. PA -
Valentin Rongier 7: The Marseille captain will have been pleasantly surprised at how easily his side were able to control midfield in the first half but was easily outmuscled by Lenglet for Spurs' leveller. AP -
Jordan Veretout 8: Summer signing from Roma was denied the opening goal of game – and first for Marseille - when Lloris saved his well-hit shot. His cross was headed home by Mbemba. AP -
Jonathan Clauss 7: Right wingback skinned Hojbjerg with ease in the opening minutes but wasted a good opportunity with a poor cross straight to Lloris. Chested down ball and volleyed wide on 21 minutes. EPA -
Matteo Guendouzi 7: One of four Marseille players with links to Spurs’ rivals Arsenal and helped team control centre of park in first half. Sloppy pass led to Spurs’ winner. Getty -
Nuno Tavares 6: Wingback on loan from Arsenal caused Sessegnon all sorts of problems in the first half but impact waned as the match went on. Did turn Emerson inside out late on but blazed his shot well over. Reuters -
Amine Harit 7: Glorious pass to set-up an early chance for Sanchez, Cracked a fearsome shot from distance just over in the second half. EPA -
Alexis Sanchez 7: Former Arsenal striker almost opened the scoring in the first couple of minutes but glanced his header just wide, then saw powerful shot saved by Lloris. Another shot looked goal-bound until Peresic blocked in second half. AFP -
SUBS: Samuel Gigot (On for Bailley 9’) 5: Beat Lloris and Dier to a corner but couldn’t direct header on target. Annoyed home fans with sloppy pass in second half and was subbed himself soon after. Reuters -
Sead Kolasinac (On for Gigot 74’) 4: The fourth and final former Arsenal player to enter the fray. Awful miss when he headed wide in final minutes. AP -
Issa Kabore (On for Clauss 74’) 6: No chance to make impact. AP Cengiz Under (On for Veretout 74’) 6: Brilliant cross to set-up fellow sub Klasinac who should have put team 2-1 up. -
Luis Suarez (On for Rongier 83’) N/A. AFP -
TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris 8: France goalkeeper showed strong wrists to block Sanchez strike and then produced superb stop to deny Veretout. No chance with Mbemba's goal. AP -
Eric Dier 7: Lucky to escape with crazy back pass looped over his own head in the 15th minute that Spurs managed to scramble clear. Improved as the match went on. EPA -
Clement Lenglet 7: On the left of back three, French defender lost Sanchez early on but Chilean headed wide. Towering header to put Spurs level with their first attempt on target. Reuters -
Ben Davies 7: Like all his teammates, guilty of gifting possession to Marseille too many times in the opening 45 minutes. And, like all his teammates, much better after the break. AP -
Ryan Sessegnon 4: Started at right wingback and struggled badly as OM controlled possession and were finding joy down his flank. Allowed ball to go out for a corner that resulted in Mbemba scoring. Swapped sides with Perisic but faired little better and no shock when he was hooked at half-time. EPA -
Ivan Perisic 7: Croatian’s crossing can be a threat but little chance to show that in an awful first-half showing. It was his perfect free-kick into the box that set-up Lenglet’s goal, Peresic's seventh assist this season. Getty -
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 7: Chasing shadows as Spurs failed to get a foothold in the game until the second half. Cracked crossbar with 10 minutes left then finished brilliantly to seal Spurs’ win. Booked late on which means he misses next Champions League match. Getty -
Rodrigo Bentancur 7: Anonymous first half, brilliant second. Was closest man to Mbemba when defender had free header to put home side in front. Excellent ball across box almost picked out Kane straight after the break when he became Spurs' main attacking threat. AP -
Lucas Moura 6: Non-existent as an attacking threat in first half – like team as whole. Came to life after the break as Spurs finally decided to turn up and make game of it. Teed-up chance for Hojbjerg that Dane fired against the bar. PA -
Son Heung-min 5: Took a heavy blow to the face off Mbemba’s shoulder and was helped off pitch before being replaced by Bissouma. Had barely figured with Marseille completely dominating opening early on. Reuters -
Harry Kane 6: Never had a sniff until first-half injury time when Lopez tipped his shot over bar. Couldn’t find his feet to turn in a chance when Lopez spilled a cross after break, then finished well but caught offside. Getty -
SUBS: Yves Bissouma (On for Son 29’) 6: Still not producing performances that earned his big-money move from Brighton but played his part in second-half revival. EPA -
Emerson Royal (On for Sessegnon 46’) 7: Mixed bag from Brazilian after coming on. Saw his cross into the box almost result in Kane scoring but embarrassed himself by going down holding his face after being barged by Balerdi. Reuters -
Oliver Skipp (On for Bentancur 84’) N/A. AP Bryan Gil (On for Moura 90+3’) N/A.
