With the draw for the 2023/24 Champions League round of 16 complete, we can assess which teams will be fancying they can go all the way in the competition this season.
There is no doubt which team will be the happier following the draw and that is Manchester City. The defending champions have been drawn with FC Copenhagen, arguably the weakest team remaining in the competition.
🏆 Who's next?#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/K80K7qs2nt— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 18, 2023
🏆 Who's next?#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/K80K7qs2nt
Manchester City get to play away in the first leg, meaning should there be an upset in the first leg, they will have the second leg to put right any damage.
However, we expect Manchester City to have too much for FC Copenhagen in the first leg and come away from the Danish capital with one foot already in the quarter final.
Given the round of 16 draw and the fact they are the current holders of the trophy, Manchester City are now the favourites to win the Champions League this season.
Their 100% group stage record of 6 wins backs up their credentials.
Staying with the Premier League and Arsenal will be happy with their Champions League round of 16 draw as they face FC Porto.
The Portuguese club finished second in the Primeira Liga last season and have struggled to progress beyond the round of 16 stage in the Champions League for many years.
Having played in the Champions League in each of the last 9 seasons, only once have FC Porto got beyond the round of 16.
Arsenal are doing well in the Premier League and finished top of their Champions League group.
They will be feeling confident of reaching the quarter final of the 2023/24 Champions League and making it to the latter stages of the competition.
Bayern Munich, who topped a group containing Manchester United, will be happy with their draw as they face Italian Serie A club, Lazio.
Bayern Munich look set to mount a serious challenge for the Champions League this season and will not fear a trip to Lazio, who currently sit in midtable in Serie A.
Lazio won 3 of their 6 Champions League group games and ended the group stage with a 0 goal difference.
Compare that to Bayern Munich, who won 5 of their 6 group games with a +6 goal difference and there appears to be only one winner.
Perhaps the toughest tie to predict in the round of 16 is the meeting between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid.
Inter Milan reached the final of the competition last season but the draw has not been kind to them and they face a tough test against Spanish opposition.
Real Madrid will be quietly satisfied with their draw against RB Leipzig, with the first leg to be played in Germany.
RB Leipzig have been Champions League regulars over the past 6 seasons but have never progressed beyond the round of 16.
Real Madrid will strongly believe they have what it takes to win this tie and reach the quarter finals.
So, following the round of 16 draw, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Arsenal must be considered the favourites to win the tournament.