Chelsea manager Frank Lampard believes facing Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16 is “the toughest draw we could have had”.
The Blues have been given a difficult obstacle to climb as they seek a first Champions League title since 2012, with fellow Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester City drawn against German opposition in RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach respectively.
Atletico are only being kept off top spot in LaLiga on goals scored compared to Real Sociedad, and have not lost to the Blues in their last six European encounters.
The sides had also met in the previous season’s group stage, and their first head to head was in a UEFA Cup tie in 1979, when Gladbach won 4-2 on aggregate. The first leg at Borussia-Park is on February 24, before City host Gladbach on March 16.
The tie of the round is arguably Barcelona v Paris St Germain.
The French side were finalists last season but will have bad memories of facing Barca in 2017, when their 4-0 first-leg lead was overturned in a dramatic 6-1 defeat at the Nou Camp.
Holders Bayern Munich will take on Italian side Lazio, while Cristiano Ronaldo returns to his native Portugal with Juventus to take on Porto.
Europa League holders Sevilla are up against Borussia Dortmund while 13-times winners Real Madrid take on Atalanta, who reached the quarter-finals last season.
