Chelsea and Man City face the toughest possible opponents in the Champions League round of 16

The luck of the draw has sent Chelsea and Man City into the two most difficult possible brackets for the Champions League round of 16, with their opponents being the defending champions PSG and Real Madrid.

The UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw has produced fixtures full of history and major challenges for the English Premier League representatives, with the spotlight on Chelsea and Manchester City having to face two of Europe's giants.

Chelsea will take on the reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain in a rematch of last summer's Club World Cup final. This is clearly an immense challenge for the London side, as PSG not only possesses squad depth but is also one of the continent's most consistently dominant forces. Having to face the champions right from the round of 16 makes The Blues' path to progression more treacherous than ever.

Meanwhile, Manchester City once again reunites with their "arch-rival" Real Madrid. In recent years, clashes between these two giants have almost become a Champions League staple, as they have met in six of the last seven seasons.

During this season's league phase, Pep Guardiola's side secured a 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Real Madrid remains an exceptionally formidable opponent in the knockout stages. With their rich pedigree and Champions League DNA, the Spanish representative will undoubtedly be a severe test for Man City's ambition to defend their crown.

In other notable fixtures, Liverpool will have a rematch with Galatasaray, the team that defeated them in the group stage. Arsenal faces Bayer Leverkusen, while Newcastle United clashes with Barcelona. Tottenham Hotspur also faces a tough challenge against Atletico Madrid.

The first legs of the round of 16 will be played on March 10th and 11th, with the return legs following a week later. This season's final will be held at the Puskás Aréna (Budapest) on May 30th.

By having to face PSG and Real Madrid right from the round of 16, both Chelsea and Man City confront the risk of an early exit. However, on Europe's grandest stage, such epic battles are precisely the most accurate measure of the ambition and mettle of any title contender.