By Emre Asikci
ISTANBUL (AA) - The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 begins on Tuesday, with Real Madrid set to face city rivals Atletico Madrid in one of the most anticipated matchups.
The clash will kick off at 2000 GMT at the iconic Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, which can seat over 80,000 spectators.
Defending champions Real Madrid reached the knockout stage by eliminating Manchester City in the playoffs, securing a 3-2 win away and a 3-1 victory at home. The early exit of the English giants was seen as a major upset, given their strong title credentials.
Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, advanced directly to the Round of 16 after finishing fifth in the league phase with 18 points, delivering a steady group-stage performance.
The first legs of the Round of 16 will be played March 4-5, with return fixtures scheduled for March 11-12.
- Round of 16 fixtures:
Tuesday:
Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa
Borussia Dortmund vs. Lille
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid
PSV vs. Arsenal
Wednesday:
Feyenoord vs. Inter Milan
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Liverpool
Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Benfica vs. Barcelona