NYON, Switzerland – Europe’s elite club competition now has its knockout roadmap after Friday’s UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon. The draw also determined the quarter-final and semi-final brackets, setting the stage for a dramatic push to the final in Budapest on May 30.
The Round of 16, which begins with first-leg ties on March 10–11 and concludes with second legs on March 17–18, promises a blend of high-profile clashes and intriguing stylistic matchups across Europe’s top clubs.
Among the standout fixtures is a repeat of one of the competition’s modern rivalries, with Real Madrid drawn against Manchester City in a tie that pits two European heavyweights and recent finalists against each other.
Paris Saint-Germain will face Chelsea in a heavyweight tie featuring French and English powerhouses, while Newcastle United takes on Barcelona in a matchup that highlights Newcastle’s growing stature in continental competitions.
Galatasaray, fresh from a dramatic playoff win over Juventus — will meet Liverpool, and Bayern Munich is scheduled to test Atalanta’s ambitious Italian side.
The full Round of 16 draw is as follows:
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Chelsea
Galatasaray vs. Liverpool
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City
Atalanta vs. Bayern Munich
Newcastle United vs. Barcelona
Atlético Madrid vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Bodø/Glimt vs. Sporting CP
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Arsenal
No seeding restrictions apply at this stage, allowing for high-profile cross-league matchups and ensuring a series of compelling ties across the continent.
Quarter-final paths have also been established, with the winners of Paris/Chelsea and Galatasaray/Liverpool meeting in the next round, while the victor between Real Madrid and Manchester City will face the winner of Atalanta vs. Bayern Munich.
The other half of the bracket pairs Newcastle/Barcelona with Atlético/Tottenham, and the winner of Bodø/Glimt/Sporting CP will take on the Leverkusen/Arsenal winner.
The draw’s outcome has generated immediate reaction across European football circles, particularly around the repeated Madrid-City pairing, which has happened multiple times in recent years, and what appears to be a relatively favourable route for Arsenal should they advance beyond Bayer Leverkusen.
Supporters and pundits alike have debated the luck of the draw and its implications for potential semifinal and final routes.
UEFA’s current competition format, which features an expanded league phase followed by knockout play-offs and a subsequent Round of 16, has led to greater diversity in matchups and reduced traditional seeding constraints. This has allowed teams from a broader set of leagues to secure last-16 ties against top-tier opposition.
Clubs now turn their attention to the pitch in March, with tactical battles, star performances and the looming possibility of upsets shaping what promises to be one of the most competitive knockout stages in recent memory.
The Champions League final on May 30 at the Puskás Aréna will conclude Europe’s premier club competition, capping a season rich in drama and elite competition.
