Latest schedule for the Round of 16 in the 2025/26 Champions League

The Round of 16 matches in the 2025/2026 Champions League are scheduled for two legs on March 11-12 and March 18-19, kicking off the thrilling knockout stage.

Schedule for the Round of 16 in the 2025/26 Champions League

The knockout phase will begin in mid-March and conclude with a historic final in Hungary at the end of May:

• Round of 16: First legs on March 11-12; second legs on March 18-19.

• Quarter-finals: First legs on April 8-9; second legs on April 15-16.

• Semi-finals: First legs on April 29-30; second legs on May 6-7.

• Final: Will be held on May 30, 2026 at Puskás Aréna Stadium, Budapest, Hungary.

List of 16 teams advancing from the group stage and play-offs

This season’s European football map shows the dominance of the English Premier League, along with exciting surprises from Northern Europe and Turkey:

• Premier League (6): Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle.

• La Liga (3): Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid.

• Bundesliga (2): Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen.

• Other leagues: PSG (France), Atalanta (Italy), Sporting Lisbon (Portugal), Bodo Glimt (Norway), Galatasaray (Turkey).

Notably, giants like Real Madrid, PSG, and Juventus had to endure tense play-off moments to secure their spots in this round.

Draw format and potential matchups

The official draw will take place at 18:00 (Vietnam time) on February 27, 2026. Since UEFA has pre-arranged the bracket based on group rankings and play-off pairings, fans can already envision some epic battles:

• Real Madrid will face one of two familiar rivals: Manchester City or Sporting CP.

• PSG will meet Barcelona or Chelsea.

• Galatasaray will play against Liverpool or Tottenham.

• Atalanta will test themselves against Bayern Munich or Arsenal.

Group winners (positions 1-8) will have the advantage of hosting the second leg at home, providing a significant psychological edge.

With high-performing clubs like Liverpool and the strong comeback of Real Madrid, the 2025/2026 Champions League is entering its most exciting and unpredictable phase. Matches between different football styles are sure to thrill fans worldwide.