Manchester City, reigning champions, will face Copenhagen in the Champions League last 16. City, wary of Copenhagen’s surprise advancement, will start the duel in Denmark in February before returning to Manchester in March.

The draw also pits Napoli against Barcelona and Real Madrid against RB Leipzig. Arsenal will challenge Porto, while Inter Milan meets Atletico Madrid, among other matchups.

City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, emphasized caution, acknowledging Copenhagen’s surprising success. Teams are set for their initial leg matches in February and the return legs in March, leading to the final on June 1 at Wembley.

The matchups avoided pairings from the same groups or countries until the quarter-finals. Notably, City and Copenhagen’s last encounter resulted in a 5-0 City win at home and a goalless draw in Denmark.

City remained dominant this season, winning all six group games, while Copenhagen progressed behind Bayern Munich, ahead of Galatasaray and Manchester United.

The draw also highlighted Barcelona and Napoli’s past clashes and Arsenal’s tie against Porto, among other intriguing fixtures. The knockout rounds promise intense battles, starting with City’s cautious approach against Copenhagen.