Bayern have been handed a challenging but glamorous first knockout round tie in the 2018/19 Champions League, as the five-time winners of Europe’s top club competition were paired with English giants Liverpool in Monday lunchtime’s draw for the Round of 16. The draw ceremony was held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland and was conducted by UEFA managing director of communications Pedro Pinto, UEFA deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti, FCB Women star Laura Georges and Luis Garcia, ambassador for the final host city Madrid and part of Liverpool's 2007 Champions League-winning side.
"They're the team of the hour, they're the league leaders in England," said sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic after the draw. "They play good football, they're very physical and they're full of energy. I never played there as a player. We're looking forward to it," continued the 2001 Champions League winner. "You need two good days. They're a top side, it's a tough one but these are the challenges that you look forward to as a player and that you have to overcome in your career."
Liverpool finished second in Group C behind Paris Saint-Germain, qualifying ahead of former Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti's Napoli side. There have been five previous meetings between the Reds of Munich and the Reds of Liverpool, the last of which was in the UEFA Super Cup final in 2001 when the Premier League side won 3-2.
As group winners, the record German champions will be away in the first leg (12/13 February or 19/20 February) with the second leg taking place at the Allianz Arena three weeks later (5/6 or 12/13 March). The final of this season's competition will be held on 1 June 2019 at the Wanda Metropolitano, home of Atlético Madrid.
The Round of 16 draw in full:
FC Schalke 04 v Manchester City
Atlético Madrid v Juventus
Manchester United v Paris Saint-Germain
Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund
Olympique Lyon v FC Barcelona
AS Roma – FC Porto
Ajax v Real Madrid
Liverpool v FC Bayern
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