Ucl Draw: Champions League last-16 pairs Chelsea with PSG and Man City with Real Madrid in ucl draw

The ucl draw paired Chelsea with holders Paris St-Germain in the Champions League last 16 and set Manchester City to face Real Madrid, leaving six Premier League clubs through but no all‑English ties. The first legs are on 10 and 11 March, with second legs on 17 and 18 March, and the final will be at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday, 30 May.

Ucl Draw hands Chelsea a rematch with PSG and Club World Cup echoes

Chelsea will play Paris St‑Germain in the last 16; the two clubs are the current holders of the Fifa Club World Cup and Champions League respectively. The tie repeats last summer’s Club World Cup final in New Jersey, when Chelsea beat the European champions 3-0, with two goals from Cole Palmer and a side then managed by Enzo Maresca.

Chelsea’s director of football David Barnard said: "It'll be tough but it holds no fear for us. It's too soon to speak about the final, we should think game by game. Now we have a strong opener to face. " Liam Rosenior, who succeeded Maresca, said he was "so excited", called PSG "fantastic", and recalled his experience playing them in France. Rosenior has faced PSG three times as Strasbourg manager, winning once, drawing once and losing once.

Manchester City to meet Real Madrid again; Arbeloa now in charge

Manchester City will face Real Madrid in the knockout stages for a fifth straight season. City’s win in Madrid in December was their ninth meeting with Real since April 2022, and City director of football Hugo Viana described the tie as "a big game for both teams. It's like a final, we are happy to go there again. "

Pep Guardiola noted the fresh tactical challenge posed by Real's recent coaching change: "It's different because it's Arbeloa there, " Guardiola said, referring to Álvaro Arbeloa replacing Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid’s head coach in January. Guardiola added that it would be "a truly difficult game because of the quality they have. " If City progress, there is the possibility of a later meeting with Bayern Munich should Bayern overcome Atalanta in the last 16.

Six Premier League clubs drawn — Arsenal to face Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle at home first leg

Six Premier League clubs have qualified for the last 16 but there are no all‑English ties. Arsenal were drawn against Bayer Leverkusen; Newcastle United will meet Barcelona with Newcastle at home for their first leg; Liverpool take on Galatasaray; and Tottenham have been drawn against Atlético Madrid. The Premier League clubs that qualified automatically are all at home for their second leg.

The first legs are set for 10 and 11 March and the second legs for 17 and 18 March. Arsenal finished top of the league phase as the only team to win all eight games, with Bayern Munich three points behind in second. If Arsenal get past Leverkusen they will face either Sporting or Bodø/Glimt in the quarter‑finals.

Route to the final, quarter‑final permutations and the Puskás Arena final

The route to the final is already known. If Newcastle and Tottenham both progress they will meet in the quarter‑finals, and Chelsea and Liverpool would meet in the other half of the draw. Should Arsenal overcome Leverkusen they will meet the winner of Bodø/Glimt versus Sporting in the last eight.

The final will be played at the Puskás Arena in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday, 30 May. Liverpool ambassador Ian Rush highlighted Liverpool's second‑leg advantage, saying: "I think our advantage is that the second leg is at home. I think the atmosphere at Anfield is second to none and, hopefully, that will come into it. "

Rematches, memories and player movement underline the draw

The draw contains several rematches and historical echoes. Liverpool will return to Istanbul for a rematch with Galatasaray; Arne Slot’s side lost 1-0 in Turkey in a September league‑phase meeting. Newcastle’s meeting with Barcelona revives memories of Sir Bobby Robson and Faustino Asprilla’s treble at St James’ Park during a 3-2 Champions League win in 1997.

The two sides also met at St James’ Park in September, with Hansi Flick’s side winning the league‑phase encounter 2-1 thanks to two goals from Marcus Rashford. Tottenham’s tie with Atlético Madrid reunites Conor Gallagher with his former club after he joined Spurs from Atlético in January. With the draw complete, clubs and coaches now have fixed paths to the quarter‑finals and beyond.