Champions League: when does the round of 16 start?

Once again we reach the conclusion of the Champions League group stage with an abundance of stories to discuss.

Are Real Madrid in better shape than last season setting them up for title number 15? Could Liverpool use the ‘we’re focusing on Europe’ excuse? Will petro-fuelled Manchester City and PSG finally taste the sweet glory of conquering a continent? Did Glasgow Rangers really just set the worst ever group-stage record?

Anyway, there will be plenty of time to get into all those narratives in another article, let’s get on with the information you came here looking for...

When are the games for the Champions League last 16?

With a World Cup, festive season and a January transfer window all taking place before the knockout phase kicks off, the final 16 teams, be it personnel or form, may be unrecognisable from that of today.

With that in mind, get your calendar out and mark yourself busy for both the first legs, scheduled for 14/15/21/22 February 2023 and the second legs, on 7/8/14/15 March 2023.

When is the Champions League last 16 draw?

Obviously, post the group stage, there is massive attention drawn to the Champions League round of 16, erm, draw. This year’s edition will be taking place at the handily named House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, and will be on Monday 7 November 2022. The ceremony begins at 12 noon local time (CET), which is 6 am ET and 3 am PT.

As always, we at AS USA will bring you all the build-up, ball picking and reaction live... and we may even put a fancy suit on for the occasion.

Note that the draws for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final (i.e. how it all falls for home and away etc) will take place on Friday 17 March 2023.

Who has qualified for the Champions League last 16?

We now know the identities of the 16 clubs who will face off in the first knockout round. AC Milan and RB Leipzig were last to seal their spots on Wednesday night. Those in the bags (with an asterisk signifying confirmed top seed) are:

Remember that group winners will face group runners-up in the round of 16, with the group winners playing the second leg of those ties at home.

When and where is the 2022-23 Champions League final?

Even at this stage some fans may already be dreaming of their beloved team reaching the 2022-23 Champions League final and seeing their heroes lifting that famous big-eared trophy aloft with cheap tinsel firing all around them. If so, you’ll want to block out the evening of the 10 June 2023, when the two finalists will clash at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium.