By Sachit Subba • Football • Feb 27, 2026 16:41 PM • 28 views
The road to the 2026 UEFA Champions League final in Budapest has been set, and the Round of 16 draw has delivered a blockbuster slate of matchups that will define the spring of European football. The headline fixture is undoubtedly a heavyweight rematch between Real Madrid and Manchester City, a pairing that has become a defining rivalry in the modern era of the competition. Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain is set for a high-stakes encounter against Chelsea, while Barcelona faces a daunting trip to St. James' Park to take on Newcastle United. Underdogs Bodø/Glimt, having navigated the new league phase successfully, will look to continue their fairytale run against Sporting CP.
The knockout stage officially commences with the first-leg matches on March 10 and 11, where the unseeded teams will host the opening encounters. The seeded teams—those who finished in the top eight of the league phase, including powerhouses like Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool—will enjoy the crucial advantage of playing the second legs at home on March 17 and 18. Among these high-profile ties, Atlético Madrid will face Tottenham Hotspur, and Bayer Leverkusen will test their mettle against Arsenal in what promises to be a tactical masterclass.
Beyond the immediate Round of 16, the draw has also mapped out the potential path to the Puskás Aréna for the remaining contenders. The bracket is split into two distinct paths: the "Silver" side features the winners of the PSG/Chelsea and Galatasaray/Liverpool ties, while the "Blue" side could see a quarter-final clash between the victors of Real Madrid/Manchester City and Atalanta/Bayern Munich. With established giants like Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund missing out after the playoffs, the competition has opened up, leaving the door wide open for a new or returning king of Europe to emerge on May 30.
