Exciting Champions League Round of 16 Draw Sets Stage for Major Clashes
Key Takeaways:
- On Friday in Nyon, Switzerland, Real Madrid were drawn against Manchester City for the Champions League round of 16 after their 3-1 aggregate victory over Benfica
- Newcastle, fresh from a 9-3 aggregate win against Qarabag in the play-offs, will take on Barcelona in their next fixture
- The opening legs for all round of 16 ties are scheduled for March 10th and 11th, with the return legs a week later
Headline Fixtures Announced Following Champions League Draw
The draw for the Champions League round of 16 unfolded on Friday in Nyon, Switzerland, delivering a slate of mouth-watering encounters. Real Madrid, still riding high from their 3-1 aggregate win over Benfica – a fixture regrettably marred by allegations of racist abuse from Gianluca Prestianni towards Vinicius Junior in the opening leg – are now set to meet Manchester City. The two heavyweights previously squared off earlier in the tournament, where Real Madrid succumbed to a 2-1 home defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Newcastle, after an emphatic 9-3 aggregate triumph over Qarabag in the play-off stages, have been paired with Barcelona. The tie promises a nostalgic throwback to the early 2000s, when these two clubs locked horns in memorable continental encounters.
The confirmed round of 16 draw ✅#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/PVhNIIZngZ
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 27, 2026
Full Round of 16 Draw and Fixture Schedule
Elsewhere, Bodo/Glimt – this season’s underdog story, having toppled Inter in their play-off – will take on Sporting CP. Atletico Madrid, following their victory against Club Brugge, are gearing up for a two-legged contest with Tottenham Hotspur. Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning champions, will face Chelsea.
Arsenal, who topped the league phase standings, drew Bayer Leverkusen for their round of 16 tie.
All first leg matches are fixed for March 10th or 11th, with the reverse fixtures to occur the following week. The home team in each tie is indicated as the first drawn side.
| Fixture | Home Team (First Leg) | Away Team (First Leg) |
|---|---|---|
| PSG vs Chelsea | PSG | Chelsea |
| Galatasaray vs Liverpool | Galatasaray | Liverpool |
| Real Madrid vs Manchester City | Real Madrid | Manchester City |
| Atalanta vs Bayern Munich | Atalanta | Bayern Munich |
| Newcastle vs Barcelona | Newcastle | Barcelona |
| Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur | Atletico Madrid | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting CP | Bodo/Glimt | Sporting CP |
| Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal | Bayer Leverkusen | Arsenal |
Pathway to the Budapest Final
Alongside the main draw, the full tournament bracket to the final in Budapest on 30th May has been published, illuminating potential storylines for the concluding stages. Notably, a prospective Liverpool-PSG rematch is possible in the quarter-finals, recalling last year’s thrilling encounter. For Arsenal, negotiating past Bayer Leverkusen would result in a quarter-final against either Sporting CP or Bodo/Glimt. Should they progress, Barcelona could await the Gunners in the semi-final.
Real Madrid, chasing yet another continental title, would potentially face Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals if they overcome Manchester City. Success there could pit them against either PSG or Liverpool in the semi-finals.
