Champions League Round of 16: Man City and Madrid Meet for 5th Straight Year, Chelsea Faces PSG Again, Bodø/Glimt Gets Dream Draw

The draw for this season's Champions League Round of 16 is fresh out of the hat. Fated rivals meet again, as Manchester City and Real Madrid clash for the fifth consecutive year, their seventh encounter in eight seasons—perhaps it's true love! Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain reunite after the Club World Cup final, while Bodø/Glimt, having eliminated Inter Milan, landed what seems a dream draw.

2025-26 Champions League Round of 16 Fixtures (the latter team in each pair is the seeded side, playing away first):

• Paris vs Chelsea: A revenge mission for PSG, but the reigning European champions have been in poor form this season, narrowly overcoming Monaco in the playoffs with a man advantage in both legs. Chelsea's counter-attacking style somewhat counters Paris, making this tie a genuine 50-50 affair.
• Galatasaray vs Liverpool: Liverpool received a favorable draw, avoiding clubs from Europe's top five leagues. Although Liverpool is in a phase of integrating new signings, they remain strong favorites to advance against the Turkish giants.
• Real Madrid vs Manchester City: The new superstar duo collide—Mbappé versus Haaland for the title of world's top striker. Real Madrid has struggled this season but carries a certain Champions League mystique. Manchester City, however, are the more likely side to progress.
• Atalanta vs Bayern Munich: Bayern, with their formidable squad, are expected to overpower the Italian side.
• Newcastle vs Barcelona: A clash of power versus technique, this is a highly intriguing matchup. The Magpies could spring a surprise, while Barcelona's attack-heavy but defensively vulnerable side means their away performance will be crucial.
• Atlético Madrid vs Tottenham: Conor Gallagher faces his former club shortly after his January move to Spurs. Tottenham may seem like a relegation-battling Premier League side, but their overall quality is not inferior to Atlético's, making this another potential 50-50 tie.
• Bodø/Glimt vs Sporting CP: This represents an excellent draw for both teams. Bodø/Glimt has knocked out strong opponents, but Sporting will be eager to seize this chance to go further. The Portuguese side are slight favorites to advance.
• Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal: The 'Pharmacists' meet the 'Gunners'—medicine entering the soldier's mouth. Arsenal are expected to progress comfortably.