Rabat—The draw for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 was held today at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, officially setting the knockout bracket through to the final in Budapest on May 30.
Beyond confirming the eight Round of 16 ties, the ceremony also mapped out the entire path to the final, allowing clubs to see their potential opponents in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. As per regulations, seeded teams , those who finished in the top eight of the league phase, will host the second leg of their Round of 16 ties.
Round of 16 Fixtures Set for March
The Round of 16 will be played across two legs on March 10–11 and March 17–18, 2026, with some heavyweight matches immediately standing out:
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
- Galatasaray vs Liverpool
- Real Madrid vs Manchester City
- Atalanta vs Bayern Munich
- Newcastle United vs FC Barcelona
- Atlético Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur
- Bodø/Glimt vs Sporting CP
- Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
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Some interesting narratives of the draw are the recurring showdown between Real Madrid and Manchester City. The two teams meet in the knockout stage for the fifth consecutive year, continuing what has become one of the defining rivalries of the modern Champions League era.
Meanwhile, Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, fresh from eliminating Inter Milan in the play-offs, will continue their record European run with a Round of 16 match against Sporting CP.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain face Chelsea in a rematch of classic European encounters, adding another chapter to a fixture that has delivered good action on the continental stage.
Knockout phase schedule
According to UEFA’s official calendar, the remainder of the competition will follow this schedule:
- Round of 16: March 10–11 and 17–18
- Quarter-finals: April 7–8 and 14–15
- Semi-finals: April 28–29 and May 5–6
- Final: May 30 in Budapest, Hungary
Now the path to Budapest is known. Whether it’s the big giants fighting for glory or a small team trying to cause an upset, the road to the final in Budapest is going to be exciting.
Read also: Europa League Draw Confirms Last-16 Ties, Road to Istanbul Takes Shape
