Champions League Last 16 Draw: Liverpool and Newcastle Face Tough Ties

Champions League Last 16 Draw Takes Shape as Newcastle and Liverpool Face Difficult Ties

Analytics

Liam Duckstein

25.02.2026, 03:21

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Champions League Knockout Stage Pairs Emerge

The Champions League last-16 lineup is crystallizing after Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt, and Newcastle United secured their progression. All six Premier League entrants will feature in the next phase. Under the revamped tournament format, pairings are determined by league phase finishing positions rather than a completely random draw.

Confirmed Qualifiers

Arsenal
Barcelona
Sporting CP
Atletico Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen
Bodo/Glimt

Pending Deciders

Several ties remain unresolved as Real Madrid or Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain or Monaco, Juventus or Galatasaray, and Borussia Dortmund or Atalanta fight for the remaining spots.

Newcastle United faces a daunting path forward with their potential opponent limited to either Chelsea or Barcelona. Eddie Howe saw his side struggle against Barcelona during the league phase, and their historical record at Stamford Bridge is poor, with only one away win against Chelsea since 2012.

All last-16 ties will be confirmed during the Champions League draw on Friday.

Tricky Matchups for Liverpool and Spurs

Arne Slot and Liverpool, alongside Tottenham, are positioned to face one of Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray, or Juventus. While Liverpool defeated Atletico earlier this season, the Spanish side famously eliminated them from the competition at this exact stage in the 2019/20 campaign. Galatasaray poses a specific threat having already beaten the Reds this term. The Turkish club holds a 5-2 advantage heading into their second leg against Juventus.

Current Last-16 Draw Projections

Arsenal or Bayern Munich	vs	Bayer Leverkusen or Borussia Dortmund/Atalanta
Liverpool or Tottenham	vs	Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray/Juventus
Chelsea or Barcelona	vs	Newcastle or PSG/Monaco
Man City or Sporting	vs	Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid/Benfica

Follow TipsGG for the final confirmed draw results and technical analysis of the knockout stages.

Liam is a Sheffield-based sports journalist with a background as a futsal striker and a degree in Athletic Training. Renowned for his tactical expertise, Liam provides sharp analysis of all the major European football leagues, from the intricate playstyles of Serie A to the high-tempo battles of the Premier League. His coverage delves into formations, strategies, and player dynamics, offering a masterclass in football tactics. A vivid tennis fan, Liam never misses the drama of Grand Slam tournaments. Off the pitch, he enjoys darts as a hobby, participating in local leagues and writing passionately about the sport’s underrated brilliance.

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