Chelsea are waiting to learn their fate in the Champions League knockout draw on Friday morning. Despite a change of managers this season, the Blues ended sixth in the league phase table. They won five of their eight games, including beating Barcelona and Napoli, and lost two to finish inside the top eight and secure automatic progression to the round of 16. Chelsea will learn their opponents, and their potential path to the final in Budapest on May 30, tomorrow as they join five more Premier League teams in the next round.

Due to the new format of the tournament, Chelsea already know they will face one of two specific teams in the last 16. As they finished sixth, they will face one of the winners of the tie between 11th and 21st, and 12th and 22nd. Newcastle ended 12th and secured their spot by hammering Qarabag 9-3 over two legs, while PSG dumped out French rivals PSG after trailing 2-0 in the first leg. PSG eventually won the first leg 3-2 and drew the second leg 2-2 to progress. That means Chelsea are guaranteed a short away trip whichever of the two sides they face. Express Sport have simulated their draw...

In our simulation, Liam Rosenior's charges are tasked with a nightmare tie. Rather than facing Premier League rivals Newcastle twice in a week, with the duo already scheduled to face each other in the league on March 14, the Londoners take on holders PSG. Chelsea thrashed PSG 3-0 in the Club World Cup final but have not met them in the Champions League since 2016.

PSG eliminated three English teams - Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal - en route to glory last season. They would be a fearsome opponent over two legs. In our draw, despite dodging an all-English last-16 showdown, Tottenham await in the quarter-finals. The two London rivals have never met in Europe before.

Our simulation sees Spurs face Galatasaray and the winner of that tie will be paired with Chelsea. The Blues have only lost one of their last 13 meetings with Spurs and are on a five-game winning streak against them. Two-time European Cup winners Chelsea would therefore be significant favourites against a Spurs side currently 16th in the Premier League table.

If Chelsea do progress to the semi-finals, our draw means they will face one of four - teams Real Madrid, Man City, Atalanta or Arsenal. Real Madrid against Man City is a 50/50 tie but Arsenal should beat Atalanta, and the Gunners would be the favourites if they face the 14-time winners or Premier League title rivals City.

Chelsea face Arsenal in the Premier League this Sunday and taking them on over two legs in the semi-finals, at the end of April and the start of May, would be an energy-sapping affair while Rosenior's team also try to qualify for next season's Champions League via the top four.

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Were they to get all the way to the final in Hungary, Chelsea's likeliest opponent would be Bayern Munich, who they have already lost to this season. Bayern won 3-1 when the pair met in September at the Allianz Arena. The Bundesliga leaders finished second in the league phase.

In our draw, they are on the same half as Barcelona, Newcastle, Atletico Madrid and Liverpool but would face Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 and Bodo/Glimt or Sporting in the quarter-finals, which is a favourable draw for a team of their strength. Chelsea facing Bayern again would also mean a replay of the iconic 2012 final, which the Blues won on penalties in Munich.

Chelsea's potential Champions League route

R16: PSG

QF: Tottenham

SF: Arsenal

F: Bayern Munich

Express Sport's simulated round of 16 in full

PSG vs Chelsea

Galatasaray vs Tottenham

Real Madrid vs Man City

Atalanta vs Arsenal

Newcastle vs Barcelona

Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool

Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting

Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich

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