Champions League Standings: how the champions league standings shape the 2025–26 round of 16
The knockout phase playoffs are halfway done and with four more teams securing their spot, the champions league standings are beginning to clarify which matchups could appear in the round of 16. Tuesday’s second-leg action produced clear progressions and one major upset that reshuffled the picture.
Champions League Standings update
With 12 teams already qualified, the potential Champions League round of 16 matchups are starting to take shape. The competition’s league phase is finished and the draw mechanics and calendar established for the knockout phase set the framework for which sides will meet.
Tuesday playoff results
The second leg of the knockout phase playoff ties took center stage on Tuesday. In the early kick off, Atlético Madrid avoided an upset and pummeled Club Brugge 4–1 to progress to the last 16. That result contributed to an aggregate scoreline listed as Atlético Madrid 7-4 Club Brugge. Bayer Leverkusen got the job done against Olympiacos in comfortable fashion, with Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Olympiacos recorded. Newcastle United completed their dismantling of Qarabağ. But it was Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt who completed the biggest upset of the campaign so far, going into San Siro and building on their first leg advantage to eliminate last year’s finalists Inter Milan.
Who’s already through
Eight teams progressed straight to the round of 16 by finishing in the top eight of the league phase: 1. Arsenal (ENG), 2. Bayern Munich (GER), 3. Liverpool (ENG), 4. Tottenham Hotspur (ENG), 5. Barcelona (ESP), 6. Chelsea (ENG), 7. Sporting CP (POR) and 8. Manchester City (ENG).
The positions from ninth to 24th — the sides involved in the knockout play-offs — were listed as: 9. Real Madrid (ESP), 10. Inter Milan (ITA), 11. Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), 12. Newcastle (ENG), 13. Juventus (ITA), 14. Atletico Madrid (ESP), 15. Atalanta (ITA), 16. Bayer Leverkusen (GER), 17. Borussia Dortmund (GER), 18. Olympiacos (GRE), 19. Club Brugge (BEL), 20. Galatasaray (TUR), 21. Monaco (FRA), 22. Qarabag (AZE), 23. Bodo/Glimt (NOR), 24. Benfica (POR).
Article coverage also lists additional clubs still in the wider competition picture: Ajax (NED), Athletic Club (ESP), Eintracht Frankfurt (GER), FC Copenhagen (DEN), Kairat Almaty (KAZ), Marseille (FRA), Napoli (ITA), Pafos (CYP), PSV Eindhoven (NED), Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL), Slavia Prague (CZE) and Villarreal (ESP).
League phase and draw mechanics
The draw for the league phase of the Champions League took place on August 28th in Monaco. The 36 qualified teams were divided into four pots of nine teams each based on their UEFA club coefficient, except for the Champions League title holders, Paris Saint-Germain, who were automatically placed as the top seed in Pot 1. The 36 teams were then manually drawn, and automated software drew their eight different opponents at random, determining which of their matches were at home and which were away. Each team got two opponents from each of the four Pots, one at home and one away. Teams could not draw opponents from their own association and could only be drawn against a maximum of two sides from the same association.
Key dates and next draw
League Phase first matchday ran September 16th-18th, 2025, with the League Phase last matchday on January 28th, 2026. The draw for the knockout play-offs took place on January 30th. Knockout play-offs first legs were scheduled for February 17th and 18th, with second legs on February 24th and 25th. The final draw for the round of 16 and beyond will take place on Friday, February 27th, 2026. The draw will be streamed live on UEFA. com and the official UEFA Champions League app.
Potential round of 16 ties
Some absolutely thrilling contests could be brewing as the round of 16 potential matchups get narrowed down. The article inventory highlights Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen on one list, and Newcastle United, Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain on another, underscoring possible heavyweight matchups. A round of 16 “Der Klassiker” between Bundesliga powerhouses Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund could be in the cards. If that matchup doesn’t materialize, then it would be top-seeded Arsenal who are forced into a bout against the always dangerous Dortmund.
With four more spots decided in the knockout play-offs and 12 teams already through, the champions league standings and the February 27th final draw will complete the picture for the 2025–26 round of 16.
