By finishing in 2nd place in Group H behind Benfica Lisbon, the French champion club could expect the worst in the draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon (Switzerland).

He was ultimately not spared with the German juggernaut, six-time winner of the event.

Paris will thus find its executioner of the 2020 final (1-0), a club which it had however managed to dismiss in the quarter-finals the following year (3-2, 0-1).

But even if PSG has good memories against the prestigious German club, facing Bayern is never an easy task, especially since the French champion will have to play the return match at the Allianz Arena.

The Bavarians lost their artificer Robert Lewandowski to FC Barcelona in the offseason, but they lost nothing with the arrival of Senegalese Sadio Mané from Liverpool and have just taken control of the Bundesliga.

The winning goal of Bayern Munich's French striker Kingsley Coman (G) in the 2020 Champions League final against Paris SG on August 23, 2020 in Lisbon Manu Fernandez POOL / AFP / Archives

"Very motivating", according to Campos

Something to thrill the Parisian defense, the Achilles heel of the team coached by Christophe Galtier, who will also see two old acquaintances and former PSG acquaintances stand in their way: Kingsley Coman, the scorer in the 2020 final, and Cameroonian Eric Choupo-Moting, in very good shape at the moment.

The French coach can always count on his terrible trio Messi-Neymar-Mbappé to thwart the Bavarian armada.

It remains to be seen in what physical and mental conditions the three superstars will return from the World Cup in Qatar (November 20-December 18).

"For us it's a great opportunity to continue the great season we're having," reacted Luis Campos, PSG's football adviser, on Bein Sports.

"Playing against a big club is very motivating. We are confident, it's a good time to play against Bayern. During the World Cup, we won't have control over our players but we have time to prepare for these two matches. It's an opportunity to show the world the great coach we have, the great players we have".

Champions League 2022-2023: the matches of the round of 16 Vincent LEFAI AFP

"This draw is a delicacy"

"It's a top game, a top opponent," said Hasan Salihamidzic, sports director of Bayern Munich on the German channel Sky.

"I think it's one of the best teams in the world, with world stars. For all football fans, this draw is a treat".

The round of 16 will also reserve another major clash between Real Madrid and Liverpool, revenge for the 2022 final won by the Spanish club (1-0) and marred by serious incidents and organizational problems around the Stade de France.

The people of Madrid, who hold the record for C1 victories (14) and are still just as formidable, will start as slightly favorites against the hardly flamboyant Reds this season.

Manchester City and wonderkid Erling Haaland, other big contenders for final victory on June 10 in Istanbul, have been pretty well off with Germans RB Leipzig as Borussia Dortmund take on Chelsea and AC Milan meet Tottenham, with a duel between the two goalkeepers of the France team, Mike Maignan and Hugo Lloris, captain of the Blues and Spurs.

Real Madrid players Eduardo Camavinga and David Alaba congratulate each other in front of Liverpool's Egyptian Mohamed Salah, during the Champions League final on May 28, 2022 at the Stade de France Thomas COEX AFP / Archives

The stunning Club Brugge will face Portuguese Benfica while Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt will have a lot to do with Napoli, one of the most in-form teams on the continent.

Finally, Inter Milan will challenge FC Porto.

The knockout stages of the Champions League are scheduled from February 14 to 22 for the first legs, and from March 7 to 15 for the return legs.

© 2022 AFP