The Champions League gets really interesting on Monday when the draw is made for the last 16. The group stages can often throw up mismatches, with the fates of each side generally decided prior to the last round of games. Dinamo Zagreb are a prime example – their six group games resulted in six losses, 15 goals against and none scored.

The knockout stages are a different matter. This year is particularly interesting given that some of the giants of European Football finished runners-up in their group, so could, therefore face a fellow colossus in the last 16.

Three English clubs will have an interest in Monday’s draw. Arsenal and Leicester City both qualified as group winners, the latter in spite of a crushing 5-0 defeat at Porto in their final group game. Manchester City finished runners-up to Barcelona, but claimed a notable 3-1 victory over the La Liga champions.

Tottenham were the only Premier League side to fall at the group stage. They never looked at home playing their matches at Wembley, and losses to Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco proved costly. They will go into the Europa League.

The last 16 draw will pit the eight group winners against eight runners-up. Ties will be played over two legs in February and March. Teams from the same group cannot draw each other, and clubs from the same country are also kept apart.

Who can Leicester and Arsenal get?

Leicester are hoping to write another sporting fairytale this season after their miraculous Premier League win last term. They will face one of Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Benfica, PSG, Real Madrid or Sevilla.

Arsenal’s potential opponents are identical apart from PSG, who finished below the Gunners in Group A.

Instead, they could face Porto, runners-up in Leicester’s group.

Dream draw: Bayer Leverkusen

Despite remaining unbeaten in the group stages, Leverkusen looks to be the weakest side in the last 16. They sit ninth in the German Bundesliga, having lost more games (six) than they have won (five). Moreover, their unbeaten group stage record included four draws from six games.

Both Arsenal and Leicester would happily face the German outfit.

Nightmare draw: Real Madrid

Real Madrid edge out Bayern Munich as the toughest potential last 16 draw. Bayern have a very strong side and have won the past four domestic titles, but they appear slightly more vulnerable than in previous years. They trail RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, while they suffered a surprise Champions League defeat away at Russian side FC Rostov.

Madrid, on the other hand, are flying this season. They are six points clear in La Liga, and have Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks. Leicester fans may argue that facing Madrid would be a dream draw, but neither Arsenal’s or Leicester’s defence will fancy facing an attack of Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema.

Who can Manchester City get?

After finishing runners up in their group, Man City’s list of possible opponents is daunting. That said, with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich sitting in the second-placed pot, their list of possible opponents is less intimidating that it might have been. One of Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Monaco or Napoli lie in wait for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Dream draw: Napoli

City would certainly start as favourites if they were to draw Napoli. The Italian side finished top of arguably the easiest group, ahead of Benfica, Besiktas and Dynamo Kiev.

Napoli possess some talented attacking players including Marek Hamsik, Jose Callejon and Lorenzo Insigne, but appear vulnerable at the back having conceded eight goals in the group stages.

Nightmare draw: Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone’s Atletico finished above Bayern in their group, and have shown in the past that they are hugely effective against possession-based football. Last season, they defeated Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals, followed by Guardiola’s Bayern in the semis. The likes of Dortmund and Juventus would also pose a major threat to City, but Atletico are probably the ones to avoid.
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