UEFA Champions League Last 16 Draw

UEFA's draw in Nyon, Switzerland has delivered exactly what neutrals were hoping for. Our Champions League predictions guide prepares you for knockout football: the Champions League's round of 16 is packed with blockbuster clashes, heavyweight rematches, and narratives that write themselves.

The headline tie sees Real Madrid drawn against Manchester City for the fourth consecutive season. See our H2H statistics guide for analyzing repeat matchups in a knockout Champions League round — a rivalry that has defined the competition in recent years. City come in looking to end Madrid's dominance. The Champions League contenders guide profiles each team's strengths and weaknesses these encounters, while the Spanish giants will be eager to prove once again why they are perennial favorites.

A Club World Cup Final Rematch

If that weren't enough drama, defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will square off against Chelsea — a direct replay of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final. That meeting ended in a convincing 3-0 victory for the Premier League side, and PSG will be desperate for revenge on football's biggest club stage. Expect fireworks across both legs.

The remaining ties offer plenty of their own intrigue. Barcelona take on an ambitious Newcastle United side making waves in their first Champions League knockout round in over two decades. Arsenal face what could be the tie of their season as they meet Bayer Leverkusen, Germany's reigning Bundesliga champions and one of Europe's most exciting teams. Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, will need to be at their best to overcome a battle-hardened Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool Look To Avenge Galatasaray Defeat

Liverpool's path to the next round comes with an unexpected edge: they face Galatasaray in a direct rematch of their league phase clash — a game the Turkish giants won 1-0 in Istanbul. Arne Slot's side will be determined to flip the script at Anfield, and this tie is sure to produce drama across both legs.

Italian representatives Atalanta face a monumental challenge in the form of Bayern Munich, while Norwegian underdogs Bodo/Glimt get the chance to write one of European football's great upset stories against Sporting Lisbon.

With ties of this magnitude scattered throughout the bracket, the 2025/26 Champions League knockout stage is shaping up to be one of the most entertaining in recent memory. Get your predictions in early — this one's going to be a ride.