Champions League Last-16 Draw Completed in Nyon
The highly anticipated draw for the Champions League last 16 took place on Friday morning in Nyon, Switzerland, following the conclusion of the playoff matches earlier this week. All six Premier League representatives have now discovered their opponents as they embark on the knockout phase of Europe's premier club competition.
Premier League Giants Face Tough Tests
Manchester City have been drawn against Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid in what promises to be a blockbuster repeat of recent encounters between the two clubs. Pep Guardiola's side will once again face their familiar foes, having clashed multiple times over the past few seasons in dramatic Champions League battles.
Chelsea face perhaps the toughest challenge of all English clubs, drawn against reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain. The French giants will provide a stern test for the London club as they seek to progress to the quarter-finals.
Liverpool will travel to Turkey to face Galatasaray, while Arsenal have been paired with German side Bayer Leverkusen. Both Premier League clubs will be confident of advancing but cannot afford complacency against dangerous opponents.
North London Clubs Face Spanish Opposition
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have both drawn Spanish opponents in the last 16. Eddie Howe's Newcastle will face the formidable challenge of Barcelona, while Tottenham are set to meet Atletico Madrid in what promises to be a tactically intriguing contest.
How Premier League Clubs Qualified
Arsenal secured automatic qualification to the last 16 by finishing top of their initial league stage with a perfect record of eight wins from eight matches. They were closely followed by reigning Premier League champions Liverpool, who accumulated 18 points to finish third in the overall standings.
Tottenham finished just one point and one place behind Liverpool, while Chelsea and Manchester City also earned automatic spots in the knockout phase by finishing in the top four of the league stage.
Newcastle United had to navigate the playoff round to reach the last 16, having only secured a playoff spot from their league stage performance. They progressed relatively comfortably with a straightforward victory against Qarabag to book their place in the knockout phase.
Complete Last-16 Draw
The full Champions League last-16 draw is as follows:
- Real Madrid vs Manchester City
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
- Newcastle United vs Barcelona
- Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting Lisbon
- Galatasaray vs Liverpool
- Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham
- Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
Arsenal remain undefeated in the Champions League this season and will be looking to maintain that record against Bayer Leverkusen. All English clubs will be aiming to progress to the quarter-finals as the competition intensifies in the knockout stages.
