Champions League draw to be REDRAWN: Manchester United mistakenly drawn against Villarreal - before getting pitted against PSG

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The Champions League draw almost descended into chaos with former Russian playmaker Andrey Arshavin drawing Manchester United against Villarreal - who they couldn't face

Champions League draw
(Image credit: Getty)

The Champions League draw pitted Manchester United against Villarreal this morning - only for confusion to reign when UEFA chiefs realised a mistake had been made.

Special guest lot-drawer Andrey Arshavin drew the Red Devils from the pot to face Villarreal, who couldn't face United due to the pair being in the same group. The draw-makers carried on, simply giving Villarreal another team - Manchester City.

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This was then called "technical difficulties". It appears that United were not a part of the draw when Atletico were pulled from the hat, however, as they were already on the board.

United may well feel aggrieved. 

Ralf Rangnick's team were later drawn against PSG, pitting Cristiano Ronaldo up against arch-nemesis Lionel Messi in one of the toughest games of the competition for any first-placed side. Yet, United seemed to have been drawn in part thanks to an administrative error. 

UPDATE: UEFA have since said that the Champions League last-16 will be redrawn at 2pm today.

Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.