Champions League 1/8 finals draw to be repeated due to Manchester United-related errors.
The Champions League 1/8 final draw, conducted by ambassadors Andrei Arshavin and Andrei Sergeyevich, has been marred by an error. Initially, Atlético was incorrectly labeled to face Manchester City instead of Manchester United, and Villarreal's opponent was not Manchester City as expected.
The mix-up came to light when Andrei Arshavin picked a ball labeled "Manchester United" from the bowl, but Andrei Sergeyevich, picking next, selected a ball labeled "Manchester City" instead of the correct team. This error in the draw means that Atlético was not supposed to face Manchester United, and Villarreal was originally not allowed to face Manchester United due to both teams being in the same group stage.
The Champions League organisers have confirmed a re-draw for the 1/8 final, with the new draw scheduled to take place at 17:00 Moscow time. This re-draw will affect the matchups for both Villarreal and Atlético in the Champions League 1/8 final, resolving the initial error and ensuring a fair and accurate competition.
It's important to note that Atlético had previously played against Liverpool in the group stage, and Villarreal's original opponent was not Manchester City. The error in the round of 16 draw concerning both teams' opponents has sparked speculation about the possibility of a re-draw to rectify the mistake.
As of early August 2025, there are no publicly available details about errors in determining Villarreal's and Atlético Madrid's opponents in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw. Monitoring UEFA’s official communication channels would provide the most accurate updates on any corrections to the draw.
The Champions League qualifying phases continue, with draws and matches scheduled through August 2025. The draw for the play-off round occurs on 4 August 2025, with matches starting on 19 August 2025. If an error in the round of 16 draw concerning Villarreal's or Atlético's opponents has occurred, it may be a very recent development not captured by the current publicly accessible information or official announcements.
Stay tuned for updates as UEFA releases more information about the Champions League 1/8 final re-draw and the impact on the participating teams' matchups.
The re-draw for the Champions League 1/8 final will now place Atlético against Manchester United, rather than Manchester City, as a result of an initial error in the draw. Villarreal's opponent in the same round will be Manchester City, contrary to the initial draw that did not have them matched against this European league football team.
