Real Madrid and Barcelona land smoother Champions League routes, but Cristiano Ronaldo in Atletico’s way again

Ben Hayward17 December 2018

Real Madrid and Barcelona must be content with Monday's Champions League draw. The European champions drew Ajax, while the Catalans were paired with Lyon in the last 16 and both will be expected to progress. There was no such luck for Atletico Madrid, however, as Cristiano Ronaldo stands in their way once again.

The Champions League final will be played at Atleti's Wanda Metropolitano stadium early next June and Diego Simeone's side are obsessed with winning the continental competition, the only trophy the club has not lifted under the Argentine coach.

They have come close, losing two finals to Real Madrid, in 2013-14 and 2015-16. And this time, after failure to beat Club Brugge in Belgium last week and finishing second behind Borussia Dortmund in their sector, their route is obstructed by their old foe Ronaldo once more.

After Schalke and Manchester City were placed together in the first pairing, Atleti were the next team to be picked out in the draw in Nyon and they were handed a tie against Juventus in the last 16, with the first leg at home and the return match in Turin.

It will not have been the draw they wanted, but Simeone's side have beaten everyone else in European knockout games in recent seasons apart from Real, losing out to Los Blancos in those two finals, in the quarter-finals in 2014-15 and the last four in 2016-17, while they dropped down to the Europa League (and won it) after failing to progress from their group last season.

Remember me, Atleti? Cristiano Ronaldo to return to Madrid Photo: AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

With the final to take place in their stadium, they will be desperate to make it, but Ronaldo has crushed their dreams before.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Barca both received much more accessible draws, highlighting the value of finishing first in the groups.

Messi and Barca will be in action against Lyon in the last 16 Photo: EPA/Biel Alino
EPA/Biel Alino

Barcelona face Lyon over two legs and will be big favourites against the French side, currently in third place in Ligue 1 behind Paris Saint-Germain and Lille, and Madrid face Ajax in what would have been a glamour tie a few years ago but is less so these days due to lack of resources in the Eredivisie.

It will be a huge shock if Barca and also Real, despite their indifferent form of late, are not in the last eight after Monday's draw. But Atleti's Champions League credentials will face a severe test in the shape of Juventus as Ronaldo returns to Madrid for the first time since his summer switch to Italy.

Here’s the Uefa Champions League draw in full for the Last 16…

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