Who could have predicted a seemingly routine Champions League last 16 draw spiralling into one of the craziest football news days in recent memory?
In case this farce passed you by, an error in the initial draw meant UEFA were forced to swallow their pride, pay Andrey Arshavin for a few extra hours work, and give it another go.
The updated Champions League Round of 16 draw. Two favourites up against each other at the first hurdle! ?#championsleague #ucldraw #psg #realmadrid pic.twitter.com/nmq7UTJJ7o
— 90min (@90min_Football) December 13, 2021
First out of the hat were RB Salzburg and Bayern Munich - a game that will almost certainly see the German champions hit double figures over the two legs - followed by Sporting CP vs Manchester City.
Social media was quick to point out that it was not the first time that Pep Guardiola's side had been handed an easy draw in Europe.
?? Sporting CP vs Manchester City ???????#UCLdraw | #UCL pic.twitter.com/VWTRpYKUYk
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 13, 2021
Rivals crying over City getting Villarreal just for there to be a re-draw and then get Sporting, now there's even more tears on the timeline, I love this f*ckin' game man ?
— ???????? ? (@PepoIogy) December 13, 2021
Man City after getting Sporting Lisbon: pic.twitter.com/ywqxuJSptw
— I never walk alone (@ose_certified) December 13, 2021
City v Sporting Lisbon? Super Bock time baby pic.twitter.com/Q6KF8h6JXT
— oli ? (@olicoulsxn) December 13, 2021
Sporting CP vs. Man City#UCLdraw #UCL pic.twitter.com/gMKWVzmFTu
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) December 13, 2021
City get Sporting Clube de Portugal in the draw this time, but we'll have to wait and see for the third draw to confirm it
— Sam Lee (@SamLee) December 13, 2021
(In all seriousness, still a good draw and trip)
Balotelli, Aguero, and a 3-2 W… the #LastTime we faced @Sporting_CP [2012]. pic.twitter.com/WaGOuBvuTp
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) December 13, 2021
The last time Sporting faced off against Manchester City. Ricardo Sá Pinto and Roberto Mancini were the managers, with Sporting winning the first leg 1-0 and prevailing on away goals. pic.twitter.com/ZKA5uRCQLQ
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) December 13, 2021
Atlético and Villarreal asking for the draw to be redone. Real Madrid asks please could they keep their own fixture. Man City sending over Furio from the Sopranos to make sure they also keep theirs. Nothing from Man United at this point cause they can't find UEFA's email.
— Luis Miguel Echegaray (@lmechegaray) December 13, 2021
Sporting - Man City #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/vuXluV74mU
— B24 (@B24PT) December 13, 2021
Benfica vs Ajax was next up, giving out strong "are we sure this isn't a Europa League tie?" vibes.
Then, in what we are dubbing the Joe Cole derby, Chelsea were drawn against Lille for the second time. On paper this might be the easiest tie possible with Les Dogues in disarray.
Managing to get the Ligue 1 side in both of Monday's draw was remarkably lucky and Blues fans were quick to rub their opponents' noses in it.
As you were, Lille. ? https://t.co/ip99qrD9xl
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 13, 2021
Memories of Lille in the #UCL! pic.twitter.com/pCrxX9HbO2
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 13, 2021
#Chelsea draw Lille in the #UCL last 16 & therefore completely get away with their group stage slip-up ? #CFC
— Krishan Davis (@krishan_davis) December 13, 2021
This was my exact reaction when Chelsea were drawn against Lille for the 2nd time ? pic.twitter.com/F0fB274d2H
— Nouman (@nomifooty) December 13, 2021
Chelsea after drawing Lille again
— Hajir?? (@HajirFT) December 13, 2021
pic.twitter.com/XPRaMkTjLb
Chelsea could have faced Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Ajax or Lille in the Champions League last 16.
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) December 13, 2021
They drew Lille TWICE ? pic.twitter.com/nPRWFIyl4Z
Chelsea draw Lille AGAIN in the #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/RJMQ9Pry0R
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 13, 2021
I'm a Lille happy right now. Great UCL draw for Chelsea
— Raf (@CFC_Raf) December 13, 2021
Chelsea fans celebrating getting Lille, yep we’re going out pic.twitter.com/0oN3SZ1go1
— Dubois (@CFCDUBois) December 13, 2021
Next out of the hat were Atletico Madrid and, predictably, they drew the team they had been excluded from drawing during take one - Manchester United.
The tie was met with a mixed reaction on social media...
Atletico getting Manchester United instead of Bayern Munich pic.twitter.com/gneRold3W1
— Project Football (@ProjectFootball) December 13, 2021
Two draws and Man United get the two toughest teams they could pull out. Will play Atletico Madrid in the last-16. Is that better or worse than PSG?
— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonESPN) December 13, 2021
With no away goals it makes Manchester United v Atletico Madrid very interesting , means Atletico will have to come out and attack at Old Trafford , no sitting in digging deep playing for a draw. Think that’s a really interesting tie #ATMMUN
— Josh Bunting (@Buntingfootball) December 13, 2021
Manchester United: "We want a re-draw"
— PULISIÇATE (@Pulisicate) December 13, 2021
Atletico Madrid: "We want a re-draw"
UEFA: "Say no more"
Man United Vs Atletico Madrid.?
The teams that pushed for the redraw:
— Tunde ➐ (@Tunnykvng) December 13, 2021
- Manchester United
- Villarreal
- Atletico Madrid
This first one is supposed to be a big club with 8 world class players. Shameless.
Atletico Madrid are happy they got United instead of Bayern.
— Booking Converter. (@ConvertedCode_1) December 13, 2021
Chelsea are happy they retained their opponent.
Man City has nothing to worry about, they rigged it &they know.
Madrid are furious they got a harder team.
Meanwhile Sarlzburg after moving from Liverpool to Bayern. pic.twitter.com/3FRDt0bCyH
Atletico wanted to play Man United and they got them.??
— BRGoals (@BRGoals) December 13, 2021
United sacked a club legend, hired a German manager and draw Atletico in the round of 16… pic.twitter.com/3cSQjjyxvu
— Will (@willreyner) December 13, 2021
Villarreal vs Juventus came next. That won't be very good for the neutral.
Inter vs Liverpool on the other hand, now that could be an all-time Champions League classic!
?? Inter vs Liverpool ???????#UCLdraw | #UCL pic.twitter.com/AH03if97VA
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 13, 2021
Florentino already has an ongoing lawsuit against UEFA. pic.twitter.com/EgIT4UzTyx
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) December 13, 2021
Liverpool going from facing Salzburg to facing Inter or PSG pic.twitter.com/xiogrdEkKv
— Wael (@WaelTHFC) December 13, 2021
Liverpool fans, Can we Beat Inter Milan and Qualify for the Next Round?
— JEFF TYMER????????? (@Jeff_Tymer_) December 13, 2021
Liverpool vs Inter Milan. Exciting draw.
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) December 13, 2021
Get the hell out of here man, Inter - Liverpool
— Siavoush Fallahi (@SiavoushF) December 13, 2021
Salzburg-Bayern: Thomas Linke Derby
— Jack Collins (@jackjcollins) December 13, 2021
Sporting-Man City: Pedro Porro Derby
Benfica-Ajax: Dani Derby
Chelsea-Lille: Joe Cole Derby
Atleti-Man Utd: Diego Forlan Derby
Villarreal-Juve: Alessio Tacchinardi Derby
Inter-Liverpool: Phillippe Coutinho Derby
PSG-R Madrid: Sergio Ramos Derby
3 - Liverpool have won three of their four European Cup/Champions League meetings with Inter Milan (L1), most recently winning both legs in last 16 in the 2007-08 campaign. Titans. #UCLdraw
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 13, 2021
Inter vs Liverpool live reaction #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/pBwtR4IkpH
— allegriball enjoyer (@chechcc) December 13, 2021
With 14 teams drawn, just two remained and boy, was it a funny tie. In the first draw Real Madrid were set to face Benfica.
Flash forward a few hours and they will now square off against Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain. Oh dear.
No doubt we will be hearing from Florentino Perez on this matter soon...
Florentino already has an ongoing lawsuit against UEFA. pic.twitter.com/EgIT4UzTyx
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) December 13, 2021
PSG DRAW REAL MADRID.
— GOAL (@goal) December 13, 2021
Lionel Messi is heading back to Spain after all ? pic.twitter.com/TEuMK6LUCR
Last time Real Madrid faced PSG in the #UCL RO16, they went on to win the Champions League. #rmalive
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) December 13, 2021
The absolute scenes on El Chiringuito when group winners Real Madrid get PSG, while Atlético draw Lille after scraping through. pic.twitter.com/OANYXEb35q
— Euan McTear (@emctear) December 8, 2021
Real Madrid facing PSG. Mbappe and Ramos are finally coming home.
— Xav Salazar (@XavsFutbol) December 13, 2021
Real Madrid drew against Benfica before UEFA messed up the draw, we complained so UEFA have rigged the draw to give us PSG. Not obvious at all.
— TC (@totalcristiano) December 13, 2021
How can any FC Barcelona fan laugh about the fact that Real Madrid will be facing PSG in the Round of 16 when their team is about to play on Thursdays?
— Lucas Navarrete (@LucasNavarreteM) December 13, 2021
Real Madrid fans when they draw PSG after originally having Benfica: pic.twitter.com/bRKBMpKeiA
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 13, 2021
Real Madrid will not be happy with the new draw. Having seen their game with Benfica in the initial draw drawn before the mistakes happened, protested unsuccessfully that the tie should stand and then been drawn with PSG in the new draw, further protests seem likely.
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) December 13, 2021
Source : 90min