Football fans were greeted to a stunner and curious surprise during 2023/24 Champions League draw.
As expected, only teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn together in round 16 but Real Madrid were barred from being drawn against PSV Eindhoven.
First, PSV Eindhoven were not in the same group with Real Madrid and are not from the same confederation but why were the two teams barred from being drawn against each other?
Here, we will take you through the logical reason that prevented the two teams from being drawn against each other.
The draw process saw the winners of each group drawn against the group runners-up, with those from the same confederation/nation not allowed to face each other.
Real Madrid drew RB Leipzig in the final tie of the draw, with the German side finishing as runners-up in their group behind Manchester City.
PSV, meanwhile, finished as runners-up behind Arsenal, and were drawn against Borussia Dortmund.
But when the Dutch giants were picked out of the bowl by Chelsea legend John Terry, a red square surrounding Real Madrid on the draw graphic - meaning the two teams couldn't be drawn against each other.
The real reason for the decision was due to the draw rules and criteria.
Bayern Munich were still left to be drawn after the PSV fixture, meaning that, if Real had been drawn against the Dutch side, Bayern could have been able to draw RB Leipzig or Copenhagen.
Both those outcomes could not occur, given that Bayern and Copenhagen were in the same group, and Leipzig are from the same confederation.
City were also still in the pot, and they could not draw Leipzig as they were in the same group.
Therefore, if PSV had drawn Real Madrid, one of City or Bayern would have been drawn in a tie that was an impossibility given UEFA's draw rules.
In other Champions League round 16 draws, Arsenal will trade tackles with Porto. Champions Manchester City will take on FC Copenhagen. Inter Milan plays Atletico Madrid. Real Sociedad face PSG. Lazio will take on Bayern Munich while Napoli will take on Barcelona.
As expected, only teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn together in round 16 but Real Madrid were barred from being drawn against PSV Eindhoven.
First, PSV Eindhoven were not in the same group with Real Madrid and are not from the same confederation but why were the two teams barred from being drawn against each other?
Here, we will take you through the logical reason that prevented the two teams from being drawn against each other.
The draw process saw the winners of each group drawn against the group runners-up, with those from the same confederation/nation not allowed to face each other.
Real Madrid drew RB Leipzig in the final tie of the draw, with the German side finishing as runners-up in their group behind Manchester City.
PSV, meanwhile, finished as runners-up behind Arsenal, and were drawn against Borussia Dortmund.
But when the Dutch giants were picked out of the bowl by Chelsea legend John Terry, a red square surrounding Real Madrid on the draw graphic - meaning the two teams couldn't be drawn against each other.
The real reason for the decision was due to the draw rules and criteria.
Bayern Munich were still left to be drawn after the PSV fixture, meaning that, if Real had been drawn against the Dutch side, Bayern could have been able to draw RB Leipzig or Copenhagen.
Both those outcomes could not occur, given that Bayern and Copenhagen were in the same group, and Leipzig are from the same confederation.
City were also still in the pot, and they could not draw Leipzig as they were in the same group.
Therefore, if PSV had drawn Real Madrid, one of City or Bayern would have been drawn in a tie that was an impossibility given UEFA's draw rules.
In other Champions League round 16 draws, Arsenal will trade tackles with Porto. Champions Manchester City will take on FC Copenhagen. Inter Milan plays Atletico Madrid. Real Sociedad face PSG. Lazio will take on Bayern Munich while Napoli will take on Barcelona.