Sofia Quijada
European Heavyweights Collide in Nyon Draw
The Champions League knockout phase takes shape following the round of 16 draw in Nyon, Switzerland. Several high-profile encounters highlight the bracket, most notably a repeat fixture between Real Madrid and Manchester City. Los Blancos advanced after securing a 3-1 aggregate victory over Benfica, though the tie was shadowed by reports of racial abuse involving Vinicius Junior. They now face a Manchester City side that previously defeated them 2-1 at the Bernabeu during the earlier stages of this year’s tournament.
Newcastle secured their spot with a dominant 9-3 aggregate win against Qarabag in the play-offs. Their reward is a historic matchup against Barcelona, reviving a classic rivalry from the early 2000s.
Underdogs and Title Contenders Discover Paths
Bodo/Glimt continues its unexpected run after eliminating Inter. The Norwegian side will now test their mettle against Sporting CP. Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid prepares for a physical battle against Tottenham Hotspur after overcoming Club Brugge in the previous round. Defending title holders PSG were drawn against Chelsea in a clash of financial giants.
Arsenal, who finished top of the League Phase, travel to Germany to meet Bayer Leverkusen. The first legs are scheduled for March 10th and 11th, with return fixtures following one week later.
Round of 16 Full Fixture List
| Home Team (First Leg) | Away Team (First Leg) |
|---|---|
| PSG | Chelsea |
| Galatasaray | Liverpool |
| Real Madrid | Manchester City |
| Atalanta | Bayern Munich |
| Newcastle | Barcelona |
| Atletico Madrid | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Bodo/Glimt | Sporting CP |
| Bayer Leverkusen | Arsenal |
Champions League Draw. Source: www.uefa.com. Edited photo
PSG vs Chelsea
Galatasaray vs Liverpool
Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Atalanta vs Bayern Munich
Newcastle vs Barcelona
Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur
Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting CP
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
The road to Budapest concludes with the final on May 30th. Stay tuned to TipsGG for in-depth tactical previews and betting analysis as the knockout stage approaches.
Read also: Champions League Playoffs: Defining Stats for Every Advancing and Exiting Club