Champions League 2021-22: Key Matches and Storylines to Watch in the Knockout Stages

The 2021-22 UEFA Champions League last 16 kicks off this week with a clean sweep of English teams—but no Barcelona—and no away-goals rule to factor in. Tuesday’s fixtures feature Paris St-Germain vs Real Madrid and Sporting Lisbon vs Manchester City.

For the first time in 18 years, Barcelona have failed to reach the knockout stages of the competition. Spanish newspaper AS labelled it the club’s “resignation from the football elite” after a 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich left them third in their group. Instead of competing for Europe’s top club trophy, Barcelona will now face Napoli in a play-off for a place in the Europa League last 16. The last time they missed the Champions League last 16 was in 2004, when they fell to Celtic in the UEFA Cup.

While Barcelona’s absence may feel unusual, it could spare them further embarrassment. Recent campaigns in the knockout stages have ended in farce: blowing three-goal leads against Roma and Liverpool and a humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich.

This season, the last 16 features:

• Sporting Lisbon vs Manchester City

• Chelsea vs Lille

• Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United

• Inter Milan vs Liverpool

For the fourth time in five seasons, at least four English clubs have reached the last 16, all qualifying with a game to spare. Three—Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea—are among the bookmakers’ favourites to win the tournament. Each English side faces domestic champions from four of Europe’s top five leagues—Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal—but none of these clubs currently lead their domestic competitions.

Chelsea, last season’s winners over City, may be aiming to repeat that feat. Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, could have a chance to win the trophy without Barcelona or Lionel Messi in the mix.

The knockout stage also features more clubs from outside Europe’s traditional “top five” leagues than in previous seasons. RB Salzburg, Ajax, Benfica, and Sporting Lisbon bring fresh competition, with Ajax boasting the second-highest goal tally this season with 20. RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku and Ajax’s Sebastien Haller, who leads with 10 goals in just six games, are also in contention for the top scorer award.

This year’s last-16 draw had to be redone after errors in the original. Manchester United were initially excluded from Atletico Madrid’s potential opponents, and Liverpool was incorrectly included. Once corrected, some teams faced tougher ties while others benefited from easier draws.

The redraw altered several key matchups:

• PSG now face Real Madrid instead of Manchester United

• Liverpool’s opponent upgraded from RB Salzburg to Serie A leaders Inter Milan

• Manchester City play Sporting Lisbon instead of Villarreal

• Bayern Munich now face Salzburg instead of Atletico Madrid

• Real Madrid take on PSG instead of Benfica

These changes could shift the dynamics of the knockout stage, reminiscent of previous campaigns where redraws could have affected extra-time outcomes, such as Tottenham’s wins over Ajax and City, or Manchester United’s comeback against PSG.

PSG, who have never won the Champions League under Qatari ownership despite heavy investment, will rely on a superstar frontline of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe. Messi, now 34, is seeking his first Champions League triumph since leaving Barcelona, potentially making this the only campaign in which PSG field this iconic attacking trio at full strength.

This knockout stage promises high drama, fresh matchups, and the chance for both established and emerging European teams to make their mark.