THE Champions League last-16 draw threw up some mouth-watering ties with holders Real Madrid playing local rivals Atletico Madrid while Bayern Munich were drawn against Bundesliga title challengers Bayer Leverkusen yesterday.

Real thrashed Premier League champions Manchester City 6-3 on aggregate in the playoffs and the 15-times winners will now make the trip across town to face Atletico, the side they beat in the 2014 and 2016 finals.

Bayern, having last won the trophy in 2020, take on Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen, who pipped them to the Bundesliga title last season. Bayern lead Leverkusen by eight points this term after they drew 0-0 last weekend.

Liverpool, who like Bayern have been European champions six times and topped the group stage table, travel to in-form Paris St Germain for the first leg after the French side humiliated Brest with a 10-0 aggregate win in the playoffs.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot will have one eye on his side's League Cup final against Newcastle United, which will be played on the Sunday after the second leg against PSG.

Five-times winners Barcelona meet Benfica again, having faced them in a chaotic group stage match last month which they won 5-4 with Raphinha's winner in the sixth minute of added time.

Arsenal, who are struggling with an injury crisis that has left them without a recognised striker, have been drawn against Eredivisie title challengers PSV Eindhoven.

Former European champions Aston Villa, having last played in the knockout stage in 1983, have been drawn against Club Brugge, who beat Unai Emery's side in the group stage.

With the quarter-final and semi-final draws also set, Liverpool could play Villa in the next round.

Emery, a European competition specialist who has won four Europa League titles, may even face his former club PSG.