Who could Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool play in the Champions League last 16? | Football
The Champions League group stage is over, which means the knockout rounds can begin with the play-offs.
The top eight teams from the group stage head straight into the last 16 of the competition, but the 16 sides that finished 9th-24th now go into the play-offs.
Eight clubs will emerge from that play-off and join the elite octet from the group stage. Clear?
It gets a bit more complicated as the draws for the play-off and the last 16 see the teams paired up, so we know groups of possible opponents before the draws are made.
Clubs that are heading into the play-offs already know that they will get one of two possible opponents.
The eight teams already into the last 16 know they will face one of four teams, depending on which sides come through the play-off.
It is an unusual system, but here is which teams could face each other in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Get your football fix
Don’t want to miss the week’s biggest football stories? Metro’s exclusive football newsletter, In The Mixer, is your essential guide.
From the latest transfer rumours and managerial moves to analysis of the biggest games and a lot more, our experts have you covered.
Sign up here, it’s an open goal.
Who could Arsenal play in the last 16?
Arsenal or Bayern Munich will play Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund or Olmypiacos.
Who could Chelsea play in the last 16?
Chelsea or Barcelona will play Monaco, Qarabag, PSG or Newcastle.
Who could Liverpool play in the last 16?
Liverpool or Tottenham will play Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Juventus or Atletico Madrid.
Who could Tottenham play in the last 16?
Tottenham or Liverpool will play Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Juventus or Atletico Madrid.
Who could Man City play in the last 16?
Man City or Sporting will play Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Bodo/Glimt or Benfica.
When is the last 16 draw?
The round of 16 draw will occur on Friday, 27 February, with the eight teams that advance from the knockout phase play-offs joining the eight teams that qualified automatically from the league phase.
Who could Newcastle play in the play-off round?
Newcastle will take on Qarabag or Monaco.
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw takes place on Friday, 30 January 2026, in Nyon, Switzerland.
The draw will commence at 11am GMT, and features teams that finished ninth to 24th place in the league phase.
MORE: Joe Cole singles out Chelsea star for praise after Champions League win over Napoli
MORE: Jeremie Frimpong injury provides latest headache for Liverpool boss Arne Slot
MORE: Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal have missed returning star ‘big time’
Who could Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool play in the Champions League last 16? | Football
#Arsenal #Chelsea #Liverpool #play #Champions #League #Football
