Manchester City and Real Madrid will renew their rivalry in the last 16 of the Champions League after being drawn together for the sixth time since 2019-20, setting up another chapter in European football’s most frequent modern encounter.
The two sides have met once before this season, with City recovering from a goal down in December to win 2-1 in the group stage. Their latest encounter promises to be another tactical battle between two European powers.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain face Chelsea in a replay of last year’s controversial Club World Cup final won by the Premier League side. The draw offers Chelsea a chance for redemption on the continental stage.
Arsenal, who are top of the league stage table, face German champions Bayer Leverkusen, while second-placed Bayern Munich take on Serie A side Atalanta in an attacking spectacle.
The draw was less kind to some Premier League clubs. Newcastle United face a tricky game against Barcelona, while Liverpool face Turkish champions Galatasaray in what promises to be a hostile atmosphere.
Struggling domestically, Tottenham Hotspur have drawn Atlético Madrid into a tough task that will test their European experience.
Norwegian surprise package Bodo/Glimt, who shocked the football world with wins over City, Atletico and Inter Milan during the group stage, face Portugal’s Sporting as they continue their remarkable European journey.
The knockout rounds start next month from March 10.
This is the draw for the last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final of the Champions League held at UEFA headquarters on Friday:
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16 MEETINGS
- Real Madrid vs Manchester City
- Bodo/Glimt to Sporting
- Paris St Germain vs Chelsea
- Newcastle United at Barcelona
- Galatasaray vs Liverpool
- Atletico Madrid at Tottenham Hotspur
- Atalanta in Bayern Munich
- Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
DATES OF THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS
- QF1: PSG/Chelsea v Galatasaray/Liverpool
- QF2: Real Madrid/Man City v Atalanta/Bayern
- QF3: Newcastle/Barcelona v Atletico/Tottenham
- QF4: Bodo/Sporting vs. Leverkusen/Arsenal
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINALS DATES
- Semi-final 1: QF1 winners vs. the winners of QF2
- Semi Final 2: QF3 Winners vs. winners of QF4
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIRST AND SECOND LEGA DATES
- Last 16: 10-11 March and 17-18 march
- Quarter-finals: April 7-8 and April 14-15
- Semi-finals: April 28-29 and May 5-6
- Final: May 30 in Budapest
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
27 Feb 2026 17:22 IST
