UEFA makes ‘mistake’ in Champions League draw

UEFA will conduct a new Champions League last-16 draw after a mistake involving Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United.

UEFA said a “technical problem” was to blame and resulted in the original draw being declared void.

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The issue arose when Group B runners-up Atletico were drawn and their possible last-16 opponents – all group winners – were then put into a separate pot, but United were not included.

Teams who met in the group stages are supposed to be kept apart in the last-16 draw.

United did not face Atletico in the groups, but Liverpool did, and Jurgen Klopp’s side were mistakenly put into the pot to potentially face Atletico – who were then drawn against Bayern Munich.

Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

The original draw had seen United set to play Paris Saint-Germain, while Liverpool had been drawn against Salzburg.

UEFA said in a statement: “Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

“As a result of this, the draw has been declared void and will be entirely redone.”

Champions League – original last-16 draw
Benfica vs Real Madrid
Villarreal vs Manchester City
Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Munich
Salzburg vs Liverpool
Inter Milan vs Ajax
Sporting Lisbon vs Juventus
Chelsea vs Lille
Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester United