Manchester City will face Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16 after the two teams were drawn against each other for the fifth consecutive European campaign.
Pep Guardiola’s side were knocked out by Los Blancos in the play-off phase in 2024-25, a year after they were eliminated by the same opposition in the quarter-finals.
The Citizens did get the better of Madrid in the 2022-23 edition, where they went on to win their maiden European crown, though they did lose in the previous year’s semi-finals.
It will also be the second time this season the two European giants have locked horns, with Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland on target in a 2-1 league-phase win in December.
Arsenal, who finished at the top of the 36-team league phase, were drawn against Bayer Leverkusen, while second-placed Bayern Munich will take on Serie A side Atalanta.
Liverpool will return to Galatasaray for their round of 16 clash, with the Reds losing 1-0 at Rams Park in the league phase thanks to Victor Osimhen’s 16th-minute penalty.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain have a chance of revenge against Chelsea after the Blues’ dominant Club World Cup final victory during the summer.
The confirmed round of 16 draw #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/PVhNIIZngZ
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 27, 2026
Tottenham face a tricky test against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, while surprise package Bodo/Glimt have been rewarded with a tie against Sporting CP in the next round.
Indeed, after their historic two-legged triumph over last year’s finalists Inter, Bodo became the first Norwegian side to progress in a knockout stage tie in the Champions League.
Newcastle United will reunite with Barcelona, with the Blaugrana opening their league phase campaign with a 2-1 win at St. James’ Park, thanks to Marcus Rashford’s brace.
The first legs of those eight ties will take place between March 10 and 11, with the second legs getting underway a week later on March 17 and 18.
Champions League last 16 ties in full:
Real Madrid v Manchester City
Bodo/Glimt v Sporting CP
Paris Saint-Germain v Chelsea
Newcastle United v Barcelona
Galatasaray v Liverpool
Atletico Madrid v Tottenham
Atalanta v Bayern Munich
Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal