The UEFA Champions League 2025/26 round‑of‑16 draw took place on 27 February 2026, pairing eight group winners with eight playoff qualifiers. Manchester City face FC Porto, Bayern Munich meet RB Leipzig, PSG versus Sevilla, Real Madrid against Atlético Madrid, Liverpool vs Club Brugge, Inter Milan versus Shakhtar Donetsk, Ajax Amsterdam versus Villarreal, and Benfica against Celtic. These fixtures set the path to the Budapest final.
Qualified Teams
Group winners:
- Manchester City (England)
- Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Paris Saint‑Germain (France)
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Liverpool (England)
- Inter Milan (Italy)
- Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands)
- Benfica (Portugal)
Playoff qualifiers:
- FC Porto (Portugal)
- Atlético Madrid (Spain)
- RB Leipzig (Germany)
- Sevilla FC (Spain)
- Club Brugge (Belgium)
- Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
- Villarreal CF (Spain)
- Celtic FC (Scotland)
Round‑of‑16 Matchups
- Manchester City vs. FC Porto
- Bayern Munich vs. RB Leipzig
- Paris Saint‑Germain vs. Sevilla FC
- Real Madrid vs. Atlético Madrid
- Liverpool vs. Club Brugge
- Inter Milan vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
- Ajax Amsterdam vs. Villarreal CF
- Benfica vs. Celtic FC
Quarter‑final Outlook
Winners of the round‑of‑16 will meet in the following quarter‑final pairings:
- Manchester City vs. Bayern Munich
- Paris Saint‑Germain vs. Real Madrid
- Liverpool vs. Inter Milan
- Ajax Amsterdam vs. Benfica
Implications for the Clubs
Advancing to the quarter‑finals brings significant financial rewards, with UEFA prize money exceeding €20 million for reaching this stage and larger sums for the semi‑finals and final. Performance also influences player market values and club prestige.
Key Matchup Analyses
- Manchester City vs. FC Porto – City enters as the clear favorite, but Porto’s disciplined defence and lethal counter‑attacks could test City’s high‑press system.
- Bayern Munich vs. RB Leipzig – Bayern combines experience and youthful energy, while Leipzig relies on compact defending and rapid transitions.
- Paris Saint‑Germain vs. Sevilla FC – PSG’s star‑laden attack faces Sevilla’s well‑organized defensive setup.
- Real Madrid vs. Atlético Madrid – A classic Madrid clash pitting possession‑based play against a pragmatic, counter‑punching style.
- Liverpool vs. Club Brugge – Klopp’s revitalised side must avoid complacency against Belgium’s top club.
- Inter Milan vs. Shakhtar Donetsk – Italian solidity meets Ukrainian resilience.
- Ajax Amsterdam vs. Villarreal CF – Both clubs showcase attacking flair and strong youth development.
- Benfica vs. Celtic FC – Historic European contenders vie for a quarter‑final berth.
Expert Perspectives
Pep Guardiola stresses the need to maintain focus and control the game against Porto.
Jürgen Klopp warns against underestimating Club Brugge’s organisation.
Xavi Hernández notes that the draw tests top clubs’ ability to adapt to cohesive underdogs.
What’s Next?
The round‑of‑16 fixtures kick off on 12 and 13 March 2026. Fans can watch live on UEFA.tv and major sports networks. The outcomes will shape the road to the Budapest final, where the champion will be crowned on 27 February 2026.
