Spanish media have branded Friday’s Champions League last-16 draw “rigged” owing to the seeding format that restricts each club to facing only one of two possible opponents.
The controversial label stems from how finishing positions in the competition’s league phase determines which teams can meet, effectively significantly narrowing the pool of potential matchups.
At 11am this morning, the balls will be drawn to decide the fate of the remaining clubs.
The seeding structure means teams already know their two possible adversaries before a single ball is picked from the pot, a system that has been branded unfair by Spanish newspaper Marca.
Six English top-flight sides remain in contention and will discover their round-of-16 opponents at the ceremony.
Newcastle, who demolished Qarabag 9-3 across their two-legged play-off tie, could find themselves pitted against fellow Premier League outfit Chelsea in a fascinating domestic duel.
Should Eddie Howe’s side avoid the Blues, they will instead renew acquaintances with Barcelona, whilst Chelsea’s alternative opponent would be reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal, currently leading the domestic title race, finished atop the league phase standings without dropping a single point.
Spanish media have branded Friday’s Champions League last-16 draw as ‘rigged’
|GETTY
The Gunners now await either Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta, the Italian side having staged a remarkable comeback against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
Manchester City face a potentially treacherous route to the quarter-finals, with their two possible opponents both presenting significant challenges.
Pep Guardiola’s squad could be forced to return to Norway for a rematch with Bodo/Glimt, the surprise package of this season’s tournament who sensationally eliminated last year’s finalists Inter Milan.
The prospect of facing the Yellow Ones will concern City, given their 3-1 defeat in the Arctic Circle back in January.
Six Premier League clubs remain in the competition
| PAAlternatively, the English champions would meet Real Madrid for a fifth consecutive campaign in knockout competition.
City triumphed 2-1 at the Bernabeu during the league phase, with Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland finding the net.
Meanwhile, Liverpool and Tottenham find themselves in an identical situation.
Manchester City will be hoping to win the Champions League this season for the second time | GETTY/GBNEWSBoth clubs set to face either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray in the next round.
Arne Slot’s side narrowly overcame Atletico in their opening league phase fixture, Virgil van Dijk heading home in added time after Marcos Llorente had twice found the net to level matters.
The Reds fared less well against their Turkish alternative, suffering a 1-0 loss in Istanbul on the back of a soft penalty.
Igor Tudor’s Spurs share the same two potential adversaries and victory in the last 16 could set up an all-English quarter-final encounter against either Chelsea or Newcastle.