The Tough Road Ahead for Real Madrid in the Champions League

Real Madrid will face Atlético de Madrid in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. The 'merengues' arrive at the derby with renewed spirits after their resounding victory in the playoff against Manchester City (6-3 on aggregate), but they must face most of the strongest rivals still alive in the top European club competition. 

Carlo Ancelotti's team finished eleventh in the league phase with five victories (Stuttgart, Dortmund, Atalanta, Salzburg, and Brest) and three defeats (Lille, Milan, and Liverpool), while 'Aleti' secured their direct qualification to the round of 16 by finishing fifth in the overall table. In the quarter-finals, the Madrid teams will have home advantage, as the tie will be decided in Madrid. However, unlike other seasons, the draw was not very 'kind' to Madrid.

Arsenal, Liverpool, and PSG, the 'boogeymen' for Madrid in the Champions League

If the whites emerge victorious from the Madrid derby, they will likely face Arsenal in the quarter-finals. The 'gunners' are favorites to advance against PSV Eindhoven, although the Dutch team will be a tough opponent that has just surprised Juventus (4-3 on aggregate). Mikel Arteta's team is second in the Premier League, eight points behind Liverpool with one game less.

The only previous encounter between Arsenal and Real Madrid was in the round of 16 of the 2005/06 season. A goal from Thierry Henry at the Santiago Bernabéu was enough for the Londoners to eliminate the 'merengues' (1-0 on aggregate). Last season, the 'gunners' fell in the quarter-finals to Bayern (3-2 on aggregate). The Bavarians were the opponent for Madrid in a favorable semi-final that ended with a 4-3 aggregate score. 

This season, in the 'semis', the most dangerous opponent for Carlo Ancelotti's team will come from the PSG vs Liverpool clash. The 'reds' already defeated Madrid convincingly in the league phase (2-0), in a match played at Anfield where Kylian Mbappé missed a penalty. Paris, on the other hand, would seek revenge after eliminations in 2018 and 2022, both in the round of 16. The other possible rivals for the 'White House' in hypothetical semi-finals will come from the Bruges-Aston Villa tie.

🏆 The path of Real Madrid in the knockout stage:

1. ⚽ Round of 16: Real Madrid vs Atlético de Madrid. First leg: March 4 at the Santiago Bernabéu. Second leg: March 12 at the Metropolitano.
2. ⚽ Quarter-finals: Real Madrid vs Arsenal/PSV Eindhoven. First leg: April 8 or 9 in London. Second leg: April 15 or 16 in Madrid.
3. ⚽ Semi-finals: Real Madrid vs PSG/Liverpool/Bruges/Aston Villa. First leg: April 29 or 30 in Madrid. Second leg: May 6 or 7 (to be determined).