Liverpool handed Champions League rematch after VAR controversy | Football | Sport
Liverpool fae a rematch against either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray in the Champions League last 16 next month. The Reds met both teams during the initial league phase, defeating Atletico 3-2 at Anfield on the opening matchday before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in Istanbul a fortnight later.
The Turkish outfit secured their progression after weathering a significant fright at Juventus in their play-off second leg on Wednesday night. Having triumphed 5-2 at home the previous week, Galatasaray lost 3-2 in extra time, ultimately advancing 7-5 on aggregate.
Juventus were 3-0 in front at the end of regulation time, despite being reduced to 10 men, while only one goal ahead three minutes into the second half. Former Liverpool target Lloyd Kelly was controversially shown red after a VAR check.
Atletico advanced the previous evening when, having been held to a 3-3 draw at Club Brugge last week, they romped to a 4-1 victory against the Belgian outfit in Madrid.
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The draw for the last 16, which takes place in Nyon, Switzerland, from 11am on Friday morning, will also plotLiverpool’s potential pathway to the final in Budapest on May 30.
Should they reach the quarter-finals, Arne Slot‘s team will meet one of Chelsea, Barcelona, Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain, with the holders having drawn at home to Monaco in Wednesday evening’s play-off second leg to progress on aggregate.
Whilst the dates for Liverpool’s round of 16 clash are yet to be confirmed, the first leg is expected to take place on Tuesday, March 10, with the Anfield return scheduled for Wednesday, March 18.
Real Madrid and Atalanta, who remarkably overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit to triumph 4-1 at home against Borussia Dortmund, also progressed through the play-offs to join Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Tottenham, Sporting CP, Manchester City, Bodo/Glimt and Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
