Champions League draw host awkwardly apologizes in front of Liverpool icon

Pedro Pinto apologized for embarrassing Giorgio Marchetti during Friday's Champions League draw after incorrectly guessing his colleague's age as 49 on live television

Pedro Pinto, Giorgio Marchetti and Ivan Rakitic during Champions League draw(Image: UEFA)

Friday's Champions League last 16 draw took an awkward twist when presenter Pedro Pinto attempted to mark colleague Giorgio Marchetti's birthday.

The UEFA host later apologized for "embarrassing" his fellow official with the gesture. Pinto made his apology with Liverpool legend Ian Rush watching on in the crowd; Rush was part of the Liverpool contingent in Nyon, Switzerland, for Friday's draw. The Reds will take on Turkish team Galatasaray in the last 16 after discovering their Champions League fate.

As the draw wrapped up, Pinto tried to acknowledge Marchetti's special occasion. Unfortunately, he miscalculated the age, leading to several uncomfortable moments on stage.

"That'll do it for us at the house of football, fantastic to have Ivan here," said Pinto to his guests, Marchetti and Ivan Rakitic.

"Well done as always, Giorgio. It's a special day because it's the last day of the UEFA Champions League season, also because it's Giorgio's birthday. So, I'm sorry to embarrass you, but I think he deserves a round of applause. I think it's 49, right Giorgio?"

Pinto was likely joking with his prediction, as Marchetti actually celebrated his 66th birthday on Friday. Marchetti swiftly joked, "less," in reply, attempting to brush off the discomfort.

Ian Rush was at the draw representing Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Former Barcelona and Croatia midfielder Rakitic found himself an unwitting spectator to the exchange, presumably as eager as everyone else to see the moment pass. Once aware of his blunder, Pinto seemed desperate to move proceedings along.

Beyond that minor communication mishap, Friday's draw proceeded smoothly, throwing up some wonderfully compelling home-and-away ties in what promises to be a memorable round of 16.

Perhaps the standout storyline of the draw is the reunion between last year's FIFA Club World Cup finalists, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

The pair will lock horns once again as PSG seeks revenge for the 3-0 defeat it suffered at the hands of the Blues on American soil.

The tournament will also see at least one giant eliminated as Real Madrid faces Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola will come face-to-face with his old adversary in the hope of engineering another tilt at glory, though the formidable talents of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. stand firmly in his path.

Tournament favorite Arsenal must find a way past Bayer Leverkusen to advance further.

Meanwhile, Newcastle has been handed the daunting task of overcoming Barcelona should it wish to progress in the competition.