Champions League: Real Madrid-Atlético de Madrid, a stellar clash in the round of 16

And now, it's on. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will face each other in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League in the most attractive game of the next round of European soccer's top competition.

The draw for the round of 16 - held at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon (Switzerland) - saw the reigning champions of the competition pitted against one of their eternal rivals.

Real Madrid, led by Italian Carlo Ancelotti, arrived at the next round full of motivation after overcoming what was one of the major favorites to win the Champions League this season, Manchester City, with an unstoppable Kylian Mbappé in top form. The most decorated club in the competition had to go through the playoffs prior to the round of 16 after a poor performance in the group stage.

For its part, Atletico Madrid also arrives at the round of 16 full of confidence, taking on FC Barcelona in La Liga and its next opponent in Europe's top soccer tournament. The team led by Argentine Diego Simeone significantly strengthened the squad last summer -as with the signing of Argentine Julián Álvarez- in the hope of winning the first Champions League in its history.

In memory, the two finals won by Real Madrid

Both teams already know what it is like to face each other in the Champions League. Specifically, they have met nine times, with a balance of five wins for the merengues, two for the colchoneros and two draws. In the minds eye remain the two finals won by Real Madrid against Atlético de Madrid in the 2013/2014 and 2015/2016 seasons.

The first leg will be played at the Santiago Bernabéu on March 4, while the return leg will be at the Metropolitano just a week later, on March 11. The winner will face either PSV or Arsenal in the quarterfinals.

Barcelona avoids PSG, who will go up against Liverpool

Another of the great duels left by the draw for the round of 16 was that of Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool. The reds come into the next round as the best team in the Champions League so far, while the French swept aside Brest in the playoffs.

This duel meant that FC Barcelona had their path smoothed. Even so, they will have to overcome SL Benfica, who managed to put the Cules in serious trouble in that splendid game in the first round that ended with a 4-5 victory for the Azulgranas.

The team coached by Hansi Flick, full of young players, will rely on some of its stars, such as the Spanish Lamine Yamal, to continue to aspire to a title they have not won since the 2014-2015 season. If they advance, they will face Borussia Dortmund or Lille.