Champions League Live: First Matches of the Round of 16 Kick Off

The UEFA Champions League is back in action with the first matches of the highly anticipated round of 16. Sixteen teams, including ten past winners such as Real Madrid (15 titles), Liverpool (6), Barcelona (5), Bayern Munich (6), and Benfica (2), return to the pitch for their first step toward the semifinals. The Spanish derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu stands out on tonight’s schedule. These rivals have clashed in two Champions League finals (2014 and 2016) and four knockout-stage encounters between 2014 and 2017. Eight years later, these familiar foes will once again decide each other’s fate in the competition. In the opening match of the evening, Club Brugge, managed by Christos Tzolis, faces Aston Villa in Belgium, aiming to take an early lead in their quest for the semifinals. The Belgian side previously defeated Aston Villa 1-0 during the group stage. Historically, Club Brugge has won only seven of their 30 encounters with English clubs in UEFA competitions. Other key matchups include Ajax vs Arsenal in the Netherlands, Dortmund hosting Lille, and Paris Saint-Germain facing Liverpool. The second legs will be played on March 11 and 12, leading into the quarterfinals scheduled for April 8-9 and 15-16.