Champions League Draw: Real Madrid to Face Man City in Round of 16

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw pairs Real Madrid against Man City and PSG against Chelsea. Full fixtures and play-off results.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 27, 2026, 2:21 PM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from UPI

Heavyweights Collide in Round of 16

The draw has produced a "final before the final" with Real Madrid and Manchester City paired together. Both teams have dominated European competition in recent years, and their upcoming encounter is expected to be the centerpiece of the Round of 16. Manchester City qualified directly as a seeded team from the league stage, while Real Madrid had to navigate a tense play-off against Benfica, eventually winning 2-1 on aggregate behind the brilliance of Vinicius Jr.

Defending champions PSG were pitted against Chelsea in what promises to be a tactically intriguing battle. PSG entered the draw as unseeded play-off winners after a dramatic 2-2 second-leg draw against Monaco, narrowly escaping extra time. Chelsea, having qualified directly from the league stage, will host the second leg at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s visit to St. James' Park to face Newcastle United highlights the growing competitiveness of the tournament, as the English side recorded their largest-ever European away win during the play-offs to reach this stage.

Play-off Drama Leads to Final 16

The road to the Round of 16 was marked by significant upsets and narrow escapes during the play-off round, which concluded just days before the draw. One of the most stunning results saw Inter Milan eliminated by Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt. Despite Inter's attempts to mount a comeback at the San Siro, Bodo/Glimt secured a 2-1 victory on the night (5-2 on aggregate) with a late goal from Jens Petter Hauge. This victory makes Bodo/Glimt the first Norwegian club in decades to reach this stage of the competition.

Other notable play-off survivors include Atletico Madrid, who survived a chaotic 3-3 aggregate thriller against Club Brugge, and Galatasaray, who overcame a massive 5-5 aggregate scare against Juventus to progress. Juventus, despite a valiant effort in the second leg while playing with 10 men, was unable to find the winning goal. These teams join the automatically qualified giants including Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur in a knockout field that represents the elite of European football.