Champions League Draw to set last-16 ties as Atletico and Newcastle advance
The champions league draw on Friday will decide the full last-16 bracket after midweek play-offs left several ties settled and others hinging on second legs; the draw starts at 11: 00 GMT (6: 00 a. m. ET) on Friday, February 27.
Champions League Draw will place teams into a full knockout bracket
The draw on Friday will not only pin down last-16 opponents but will allocate each side’s place on the bracket, confirming potential quarter-final and semi-final routes. Organizers will make the draw for the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals on Friday, February 27 at 11am GMT.
Newcastle secured progression and finalists for Chelsea or Barcelona
Newcastle have progressed to join Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham in the Champions League last 16 after overcoming Qarabag over the play-off tie; Newcastle won 9-3 on aggregate and had earlier recorded a 6-1 first-leg victory in the play-off first leg. As a result, Newcastle will face either Chelsea or Barcelona in their last-16 tie and could meet Chelsea in the last 16 — the earliest opportunity for two English sides to meet in this stage.
Atletico confirmed as one of Liverpool’s possible opponents
Atletico Madrid completed a 7-4 aggregate victory over Club Brugge to advance from the knockout play-off round and have been confirmed as the first of Liverpool’s two possible opponents in the last 16. Liverpool’s other potential opponent will emerge from Juventus versus Galatasaray; Galatasaray hold a 5-2 advantage from the first leg in Istanbul.
Play-off leads and remaining second legs that will shape the hat
Several ties remain open heading into the draw. Paris Saint-Germain hold a 3-2 lead before hosting Monaco, with the winner set to face Chelsea or Barcelona. Real Madrid lead Benfica 1-0 and could set up a tie with Sporting or Manchester City. Borussia Dortmund hold a 2-0 advantage over Atalanta and can secure the right to play Arsenal or Bayern Munich. One source records Bodo/Glimt as having eliminated Inter Milan and set to face either Manchester City or Sporting, while other listings still include Inter Milan among Manchester City’s possible opponents.
Seeding, schedule and where the final will be held
The eight winners of the two-legged knockout play-offs join the top eight from the league phase in Friday’s draw. From the last 16 onward ties are two-legged except for the final. Seeded sides — those finishing in the top eight of the league phase — will be given the advantage of playing second legs at home. This season, placement in the league phase will also influence seeding for the quarter-finals and semi-finals: teams finishing first to fourth will be seeded for the quarter-finals, while the two sides finishing top and runner-up will also be seeded for the semi-finals. If a seeded team does not progress, the team that knocks them out will inherit their seeding position.
Fixture windows and the final
Last-16 first legs are scheduled for either 10 or 11 March, with the reverse fixtures on 17-18 March. The 2025-26 final is set for 30 May at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.
Fans have been invited to follow live coverage and updates from 11am GMT on Friday; broadcasters have also promoted extra updates WhatsApp. The draw on Friday, February 27 at 11: 00 GMT (6: 00 a. m. ET) will confirm who faces whom in the last 16 and fix the bracket for the remainder of the competition.
