Champions League Last 16 Draw Details Announced for Upcoming Matchday

UEFA to Hold 2025/26 Champions League Last 16 Draw on February 27

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League playoff round has concluded, with several top European football teams advancing to the last 16. The draw for the next stage of the competition will take place on Friday, February 27, at 11:00 GMT in Nyon, Switzerland.

Eight teams have already qualified for the last 16, including defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid. These teams, along with seven others that emerged from the playoffs, will determine their opponents and potential routes to the final.

The draw will be held at 11:00 GMT on February 27, and it will reveal which teams will play each other in the last 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals. The format of the competition will see the eight winners of the playoffs face the top-eight league stage finishers in a knockout format.

The draw will also determine the potential path to the final for each team, as every participant will know their possible quarterfinal and semifinal opponents. The last 16, quarterfinal, and semifinal fixtures will be played over two legs, while the final will be a single match.

The teams that have already qualified for the last 16 include Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sporting Lisbon, and Tottenham Hotspur. Additionally, Atalanta, Bodo/Glimt, Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid have also advanced to the next stage.

The first legs of the last 16 ties will take place on March 10-11, with the second legs scheduled for March 17-18. The quarterfinals will then follow on April 7-8 and April 14-15, followed by the semifinals on April 28-29 and May 5-6.

The final match will be held at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, on May 30. Real Madrid will face either Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon, while Paris Saint-Germain will face either Barcelona or Chelsea. Other matchups include Liverpool against Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray, and Arsenal or Bayern Munich against Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen.

The seeding for the draw is based on the teams’ league stage finish, with seeded teams having the advantage of playing their second last 16 legs at home. Teams that finished in the top four of the league stage will also receive home advantage for the second legs of their quarterfinals, if they reach that stage.

Source: Al Jazeera