On February 27, 2026, the draw for the Round of 16 matches of the UEFA Champions League for the 2025/26 season took place. The eight pairs that will compete for a spot in the quarter-finals of the tournament have been announced. Below is the list of matchups in Europe's premier club competition.
Photo: UEFA social media
Top Clashes in the Round of 16
The draw at the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) office has given us two fantastic matchups. On one hand, fans will be thrilled for at least four hours a week, while on the other hand, one of the pairs Kylian Mbappe-Erling Haaland and Ousmane Dembele-Cole Palmer will be left without a trophy in the next two weeks.
For the second consecutive year, the Spanish and English clubs meet in the knockout stages at an early phase. In 2025, the teams faced off in the play-off round – Real won both matches (3:2 and 3:1). This clash will be memorable due to the play of two recent geniuses – Real's French forward Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland.
Odds for the first match: 2.65* – win for Real Madrid, 3.55 – draw, 2.42 – win for Manchester City
*Here and below: odds are approximate and may vary across different bookmakers
A repeat of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final between the French and English clubs. In the Champions League, PSG and Chelsea last met ten years ago – also in the Round of 16. Back then, the French club won both matches with the same score (2:1), with Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring half of the goals for Paris.
Odds for the first match: 1.72 – win for PSG, 3.95 – draw, 4.30 – win for Chelsea
All Round of 16 Pairs in the Champions League
The Champions League draw has deservedly given a relatively easy path up to the semi-final stage. However, surprises can still occur. The last time Bayer and Arsenal faced each other in official tournaments was in 2002, where the Germans failed to defeat the English side (1:1 and 1:4).
Odds for the first match: 5.20 – win for Bayer, 4.10 – draw, 1.57 – win for Arsenal
The Italian and German clubs have not previously met in matches against each other. Bayern appears to be the clear favorite, but Atalanta now knows how to defeat German clubs, even when in a dire situation.
Odds for the first match: 4.40 – win for Atalanta, 4.20 – draw, 1.65 – win for Bayern
The Turkish club has already delivered a huge surprise by knocking Juventus out of the competition. Now, another titled club from England stands in their way. An interesting fact: Liverpool has won only one of five matches against the Istanbul side in the history of the Champions League – losing two and drawing two.
Odds for the first match: 4.50 – win for Galatasaray, 4.00 – draw, 1.67 – win for Liverpool
The Spanish and English clubs will meet for the first time in the history of the Champions League. Bookmakers consider Diego Simeone's team to be the clear favorite for the home match and the overall tie. However, the editorial team believes that this matchup might not be as straightforward as it seems.
Odds for the first match: 1.63 – win for Atletico, 4.00 – draw, 4.80 – win for Tottenham
Another England vs. Spain clash (the third in the Round of 16). The "Magpies" steamrolled Qarabag in the previous round, but now face a much tougher opponent. The Catalan club arrives on the island not as the obvious favorite, according to bookmakers – indeed, Newcastle has a real chance at home. However, in the 21st century, the English side has never defeated the "Blaugrana" in the Champions League.
Odds for the first match: 2.60 – win for Newcastle, 3.60 – draw, 2.43 – win for Barcelona
On paper, this is the least interesting matchup. However, the Norwegians have earned the right to be watched. What if the polar miracle continues into March? Bookmakers are already cautiously eyeing Bodø/Glimt and rate their chances of winning as roughly equal to those of the Portuguese team.
Odds for the first match: 2.60 – win for Bodø/Glimt, 3.50 – draw, 2.49 – win for Sporting
The first leg of the Round of 16 will take place on March 10 and 11, with the return legs on March 17 and 18, 2026. Almost certainly, the quarterfinals will feature two high-profile matches. Here's how the tournament bracket looks.
Photo: UEFA social media
Predictions for advancing to the quarterfinals
More accurate predictions for the Champions League quarterfinalists will be possible after the first games – anything can happen there. But if we evaluate the current form of the teams, their head-to-head history, bookmakers' expectations, and statistical trends, the Scores24 editorial team suggests that in the quarterfinals we will see the following matchups:
- PSG vs Liverpool
- Manchester City vs Bayern Munich
- Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
- Sporting vs Arsenal
The first legs of the Champions League quarterfinals will take place on April 7 and 8, with the return legs on April 14 and 15. The semifinals will be held on April 28/29 and May 5/6, and the final match of the tournament will take place on May 30, 2026, in Budapest.
Main favorites to win the Champions League
According to bookmakers, the top three favorites to win the 2025/26 Champions League are clubs from England, Germany, and Spain:
- Arsenal (3.52 to win the tournament)
- Bayern Munich (6.55)
- Barcelona (7.60)
It is interesting that the most successful club in the tournament’s history, Real Madrid, who have won the trophy 15 times, are not even among the top five favorites — bookmakers offer odds of 13 on their victory. One of the richest clubs in the world, Manchester City, are fourth on the list of title favorites with odds of 9.1.
The lowest chances of reaching the final after the draw belong to Atalanta and Galatasaray. However, some clubs have already accustomed us to surprises, so we only need to wait a few more days to once again enjoy football of the highest level.
Also read in the Articles section the pieces that will help you better prepare for the upcoming Champions League matches:
