Europe’s biggest prize: The Champions League
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City will all be watching the Champions League knockout phase playoff stage with interest.
In the new league phase format, the top eight teams have progressed straight through to the last 16 and avoided a two-legged knockout play-off tie in the process.
Meanwhile the teams that finished between ninth and 24th will be in action this week.
As Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Monaco, Qarabag, Bodo/Glimt and Benfica finished the league phase in 17th to 24th, they are at home for their respective first-legs.
The blockbuster tie of the round, arguably, sees Benfica take on Real Madrid in a rematch of the dramatic showdown in Lisbon last month where an injury time header from Anatoliy Trubin kept Jose Mourinho side's Champions League dream alive.
Champions League knockout phase playoff fixtures
Galatasaray vs Juventus
Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain
Benfica vs Real Madrid
Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
Qarabag vs Newcastle
Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen
Bodo/Glimt vs Inter Milan
Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
When is the Champions League last-16 draw?
The top eight from the league phase of the competition will face the eight winners of the knockout play-off ties in the last 16. The draw for the last 16 will take place on Friday February 27, 2026.
In addition, each team’s potential route to the Champions League final will become clear as the quarter-final and semi-final paths will be revealed.
Who can Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea face?
Because of the newly introduced pairing system, all five Premier League teams already know their four potential opponents in the last-16 draw.
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Arsenal topped the standings and will therefore either face the winners of the knockout phase play-off between the 15th/16th and 17th/18th seeds; Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund or Olympiacos.
As a result of finishing third and fourth respectively in the league phase, Liverpool and Spurs will either face the winners of the knockout phase play-off between the 13th and 14th seeds, or the 19th and 20th seeds; Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray.
Chelsea secured a sixth-placed finish thanks to a comeback win against Napoli and will face either holders Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle, Monaco or Qarabag in the last-16.
Man City, meanwhile, will face either Real Madrid, Benfica, Bodo/Glimt or Inter Milan after finishing eighth in the league phase.
Who is guaranteed a Champions League last-16 place?
Arsenal
Bayern Munich
Liverpool
Tottenham
Barcelona
Chelsea
Sporting CP
Man City
Champions League last-16 dates
The first legs will be played on either March 10 or March 11, with the return fixtures a week later.