Real Madrid made it through to the Round of 16 this season without any major complications, with the home defeat to Sheriff Tiraspol the only blot on the copybook for Ancelotti’s side who won five games from six in Group D.
Topping the group sees Madrid set to face a second placed side in the Round of 16 and with teams from the same federation unable to face one another at this stage of the competition, that rules out both Villarreal and Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid and Inter also played in the same group which also means that the Serie A side will not face ‘Los Merengues’ in the next stage. Five teams are eligible to come head-to-head with the 13 time European champions when the draw is made on Monday, 13 December in Nyon and of the five, Madrid fans are particularly keen to avoid two of these teams.
Champions League – Group D – Real Madrid v Inter MilanSoccer Football – Champions League – Group D – Real Madrid v Inter Milan – Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain – December 7, 2021 Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti REUTERS/Juan Medina JUAN MEDINA (REUTERS)
Real Madrid’s possible Round of 16 rivals
Sporting CP (Portugal)
Two Portuguese sides could face Real Madrid with current Liga Nos champions surprising many by finishing second in Group C and in doing so, condemned Borussia Dortmund to the Europa League. The ‘Lisbon Lions’ are unbeaten in the league this season and currently top the table, level on points with FC Porto and in Pedro Gonçalves have one of European football’s most exciting talents.
Benfica (Portugal)
The Lisbon giants also delivered a major surprise in the group stage as Jorge Jesus’ men capitalized on FC Barcelona’s loss in Munich by beating Dynamo Kyiv at home to secure a second place and progress in the competition. Benfica are currently third in the Portuguese league and with free-scoring Darwin Nuñez and Rafa Silva would offer a stern test for Ancelotti’s side.
RB Salzburg (Austria)
The Austrian side came second in a competitive group with Sevilla, Wolfsburg and Lille and are current runaway leaders in the Bundesliga domestically. The men from Salzburg would be the preferred opponent for many Real Madrid fans for Monday’s Nyon draw.
Chelsea (England)
A return game against the current Champions League holders and the side who eliminated Madrid last season is not something that ‘Madridistas’ would relish with the Premier League outfit outplaying Zidane’s men in both Valdebebas and Stamford Bridge last time out. Conceding a last minute goal to FC Zenit saw Tuchel’s men draw 3-3 against the Russian side and condemned Chelsea to a second place finish in Group H.
Paris Saint-Germain (France)
The Parisian side are the other team in the draw that Real Madrid will be anxious to avoid along with Chelsea. The Ligue 1 side are comfortable leaders in the French championship and have quality in every department with a formidable attacking line-up boasting Kylian Mbappé, Neymar Jr. and Leo Messi.