Title: Exciting Round of 16 Draw for FC Bayern: Mbappé Back in Sight
FC Bayern Munich is brimming with anticipation for the Champions League Round of 16 draw, having clinched top spot in their group. With six potential opponents lurking, including three Italian giants, the German champions are eager to unravel their fate.
The UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland will host the draw on Monday (12:00 CET). If fortune favors them, FC Bayern could stumble upon last year's finalists, Inter Milan, or reigning Italian champions, SSC Napoli or Lazio Roma. A tantalizing twist could also pit them against the formidable Paris Saint-Germain, led by star striker Kylian Mbappé, whom they defeated in the Round of 16 last season.
Other options include FC Porto and PSV Eindhoven, while Group F runners-up Borussia Dortmund and their group-stage opponents, FC Copenhagen and RB Leipzig, have been eliminated from the draw. A German duel would only materialize from the quarter-finals onward.
As Tuchel, FC Bayern's coach, declared after the 1-0 win against Manchester United in the final group game, "We've ticked this box. Now, we're eyeing the quarterfinals." According to him, any team can emerge victorious from the Round of 16 onwards.
The Round of 16 matches will commence in the New Year. The first leg will take place on February 13th, 14th, 20th, or 21st, followed by the return leg on March 5th, 6th, 12th, or 13th. Since they are group winners, Bayern will set out on their European journey away from home first.
Potential Opponents
PSV Eindhoven: Having successfully navigated back to the knockout phase for the first time since the 2015/16 season, the Dutch champions lead by Luuk de Jong, are ready to dance with FC Bayern once more. Former Bayern loanee Malik Tillman is also a part of their squad. Bayern's record against PSV stands at six wins, one draw, and one loss.
SSC Napoli: The Italian champions, coached by Victor Osimhen, have struggled to meet expectations this season, placing sixth in the Serie A standings. Should they be drawn against FC Bayern, it would be Minjae Kim's reunion with his previous employers. Bayern and Napoli have clashed four times in the European Cup so far.
Inter Milan: The Italian giants, led by Yann Sommer and Benjamin Pavard, occupied second place in Group F, being Bayern's group-stage opponents. While Bayern has fairytale victories against Inter, the Italian team has managed to knock them out in the 2019/20 Champions League.
Lazio Rome: Currently positioning tenth in the Serie A, the Italian side, spearheaded by top scorer Ciro Immobile, presents a formidable challenge to Bayern. In their past encounters, Bayern has triumphed.
Paris Saint-Germain: The French champions, with Mbappé at the helm, finished second in Group F, behind Borussia Dortmund. With Lucas Hernandez in their ranks, Lupien (Paris), would be a tough contender. Bayern has a historical victory record of eight wins to France's seven in the European Cup.
FC Porto: The 2020 Portuguese champions, under the captaincy of veteran defender Pepe, find themselves in second position in the league. With a battle-tested history against Bayern, the victory records stand at three wins for Bayern, two draws, and two losses for the Portuguese side.
Bayern Squad Statistics
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In the event of a potential match against Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid, Bayern's encounters are as follows:
- Bayer Leverkusen: The rivalry between the two clubs has been sustained due to their frequent meetings in both German and European competitions.
- Atletico Madrid: Though there isn't specific mention in the sources, Bayern and Atletico have shared a storied past, featuring in the Champions League group stages and knockout stages in recent years, but a detailed head-to-head analysis would require exploring historical match records and specific articles detailing their past encounters.
