On Monday, in Nyon (Switzerland), starting at 11h00 (mainland Portugal time), the draw for the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League will be held, and FC Porto already knows the seven candidates to face in the first round of the knockout stage: Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Roma, Paris Saint-Germain or Barcelona.





After qualifying in the second place of Group G, the Dragons already know that the next opponent will be one of the winners of the remaining seven groups (Besiktas cannot face the Dragons just yet), and, looking at the field of statistics, there is one probability that immediately draws attention: in seven possible candidates, four of them are English, but there is also one Spanish, one Italian and one French.





Looking at the history of each club, Barcelona and Liverpool would be the top contenders, as each won the trophy five times (between the Champions League and European Champion’s Cup). In this small group of winners, Manchester United comes next, with three victories, and FC Porto is right behind, with the titles won in 1987 and 2004. Roma, Tottenham, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain never won the most important club’s cup in Europe, and the last two, with the massive investment of recent years, remain as the main favourites to win the final.





Another important information to retain is that the teams that won their groups already know they will play the second leg at home. This means that Estádio do Dragão will be the stage of the first leg of the Round of 16, with the date being set after the draw.





Possible opponents and highest stage reached in the Champions League





Manchester United – Group A


Starting stage: Group Stage


Previous participations: 26


Highest stage reached: Victory in 2008, 1999 and 1968


Last season: 6th in the English League, winner of the Europa League





Liverpool – Group E


Starting stage: Qualification Play-off


Previous participations: 22


Highest stage reached: victory in 2005, 1984, 1981, 1978 and 1977


Last season: 4th in the English League





Manchester City – Group F


Starting stage: Group Stage


Previous participations: 8


Highest stage reached: Semi-final (2015/16)


Last season: 3rd in the English League, Round of 16 in the Champions League





Tottenham – Group H


Starting stage: Group Stage


Previous participations: 4


Highest stage reached: Semi-final (1961/62)


Last season: 2nd in the English League





Roma - Group C


Starting stage: Group Stage


Previous participations: 11


Highest stage reached: Final (1983/84)


Last season: 2nd in the Italian League





Paris Saint-Germain – Group B


Starting stage: Group Stage


Previous participations: 11


Highest stage reached: Semi-final (1994/95)


Last season: 2nd in the French League, Round of 16 in the Champions League





Barcelona – Group D


Starting stage: Group Stage


Previous participations: 27


Highest stage reached: Victory in 2015, 2011, 2009, 2006 and 1992


Last season: 2nd in the Spanish League, quarter-finals in the Champions League