Smooth passage for Arsenal? Gunners learn possible Champions League rivals as Chelsea and Tottenham face tough fixtures
By Joel Masibo, February 26, 2026Six Premier League clubs will discover who stands between them and a place in the Champions League quarter-finals when the round of 16 draw is conducted on Friday, February 27, 2026, with Arsenal expected to receive the most favourable matchup.
Round of 16 blockbusters
Each side already knows that their next opponent will be one of two possible teams, following the conclusion of the dramatic play-off stage that eliminated eight clubs, including Italian heavyweights Inter Milan and Juventus.
However, European giants such as Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain progressed, alongside English hopefuls Newcastle United.
After finishing top of the league phase, Arsenal appear to have landed the softest route into the knockout stages. Mikel Arteta’s men will be drawn against either Italian outfit Atalanta or Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, both of whom advanced after overcoming Borussia Dortmund and Olympiacos respectively.
The outlook is far less encouraging for the other English sides. Newcastle, who cruised past Qarabag in the play-offs, will now face either Chelsea or Barcelona. If Chelsea avoids a domestic showdown with the Magpies, they are likely to be handed a daunting tie against reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain.
On the other hand, struggling Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are also in for challenging encounters, with both clubs set to meet either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray in the next round.
City face uphill task
Manchester City, meanwhile, are braced for a difficult assignment, as they will be paired with either Norwegian surprise package Bodo/Glimt or 14-time champions Real Madrid. City previously lost to Bodo/Glimt during the league phase, adding further intrigue to the potential rematch.
The first legs of the round of 16 ties will take place on Tuesday, March 10 and Wednesday, March 11, 2026, with the return fixtures scheduled for the following week. Friday’s draw will also determine the quarter-final and semi-final pairings, mapping out the remaining path to the final.