DISCOVER THE UCL KNOCKOUT BRACKET: WHO ARSENAL AND LIVERPOOL ARE LIKELY TO FACE
Chaos looms as 18 matches decide the UCL Round of 16. Projections for Newcastle, Chelsea, and Tottenham’s big night.
The Champions League table is hanging by a thread, and Wednesday night promises chaos. Every team—36 in total—has just one game left to play before the knockout rounds come into focus.
All 18 matches start at 8pm sharp on Wednesday. Six Premier League clubs are still in the mix, and five of them are sitting pretty in the top eight.
If you finish in the top eight, you get seeded and go straight to the round of 16. Land anywhere from ninth to 24th, though, and you have to slog through a two-legged play-off. Arsenal are basically locked in at the top thanks to their insane goal difference. Liverpool and Tottenham just need to handle their business—beat Qarabag and Eintracht Frankfurt—and they’re through.
Newcastle, Chelsea, and Manchester City still have work to do. And because of the new Champions League draw, we already have a decent idea who each team might face—even though everything could change on the night.
Right now, Man City are 11th, making them the only English side not automatically through. Our projections have them facing either Monaco or PSV in the play-off.
If City win that, their reward is a tie with either Spurs or PSG in the last 16. Not exactly a walk in the park.
Spurs, if they avoid City, look set to play Monaco, PSV, or Atletico Madrid in their opener.
Arsenal’s reward for topping the group? A last-16 showdown with one of Galatasaray, Qarabag, Juventus, or Borussia Dortmund.
Liverpool, sitting fourth, is on track to meet Atalanta, Inter Milan, Marseille, or Bayer Leverkusen.
Newcastle, currently seventh, could run into Barcelona if they keep their spot. Other possible opponents: Sporting CP, Athletic Club, or Olympiacos.
Chelsea are eighth, so they’re pulling from the same pool as Newcastle.
The way the draw pans out, Arsenal could meet Newcastle or Chelsea in the quarters. You might even get an all-English quarter-final. Or Barcelona could be waiting.
Liverpool—six-time champs—could end up facing Man City or Spurs in the quarter-finals, or maybe PSG or Atletico. Nothing’s set in stone, but with just one game left for everyone, the table could flip fast.
Arsenal looks locked into second overall. Liverpool probably can’t get higher than third, thanks to goal difference.
Tottenham’s best hope is third. Newcastle and Chelsea have to avoid losing—Newcastle at PSG, Chelsea at Napoli—to stay in the top eight. City needs to beat Galatasaray at home and hope a few results go their way.
One last twist: topping the league phase didn’t help Liverpool last season—they got PSG in the last 16 and bowed out early. But this time, if Arsenal finish top, they’ll get home advantage in the second leg of every knockout tie. That could make all the difference.
TOTTENHAM CONFIRM MANAGER POSITION FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH AGAINST ATLETICO MADRID
Tottenham confirm Igor Tudor will remain in charge for the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid this Tuesday.
Tottenham has put an end to the speculation about Igor Tudor’s future by confirming he will stay on as head coach for their upcoming Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. Sky Sports reports Tudor will lead the pre-match press conference on Tuesday ahead of this crucial fixture.
Pressure on Tudor had been mounting following a rocky start at Tottenham. There were murmurs he might be sacked after a series of disappointing results, but the late 1-1 draw against Liverpool seems to have provided a reprieve. Before that, the assumption was that one more loss, especially away at Anfield, could cost him his job. Confirming Tudor’s role for the Atletico clash signals the club is sticking with him for now, at least through the next big challenge.
That challenge is significant. Spurs are trailing 5-2 on aggregate after the first leg against Atletico, a match that drew sharp criticism for Tottenham’s performance. The game was difficult to watch, not only because of the scoreline but also because of a striking moment when goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was taken off just 17 minutes in, a rare and unsettling decision that highlighted deeper issues.
For Tudor, Tuesday’s match is both a test and an opportunity to demonstrate leadership. The confirmation of his position brings mixed feelings among fans. There’s a recognition that stability is important during such a hectic part of the season, yet lingering doubts remain after some shaky displays.
Fans watched the first leg against Atletico with a sense of disbelief. Conceding five goals and that early goalkeeper substitution raised legitimate questions about the team’s preparation and tactical choices. That substitution felt emblematic of a chaotic night, reflecting larger problems.
The gritty draw with Liverpool, though, offered a glimpse of fighting spirit and earned some credit for resilience, even if the overall form is inconsistent. Moments like that can offer managers breathing room in tough times.
Still, supporters crave clarity and a long-term vision. Tottenham has shifted its direction multiple times in recent years, and the fans want a coherent plan moving forward. Tudor now has a clear chance to reinforce his authority and bring some order against a tough Atletico side.
Even if overcoming the deficit proves elusive, Spurs supporters will be looking for signs of organisation, determination, and a stronger team identity. That might be the most valuable takeaway from the clash.
UCL DRAW 2026 LAST 16: PREMIER LEAGUE GIANTS FACE BRUTAL DRAW IN QUEST FOR EUROPEAN GLORY 2026
The Champions League draw is out! Read the full list of fixtures, including Man City vs Real Madrid and Newcastle’s trip to Barcelona.
Manchester City will go head-to-head with Real Madrid in what’s easily the standout fixture of this season’s Champions League round of 16.
UEFA stuck to the same process as last year’s new format, running the draws for the last 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals all on the same day in Nyon, Switzerland.
There’s still plenty of English interest left in the competition. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham, and Man City all made it through, which pretty much guarantees the Premier League an extra Champions League spot next season thanks to the UEFA coefficient.
With the seeding and pairing rules, each of the 16 teams already knew they’d be facing one of just two possible opponents in the next round.
Liverpool and Tottenham ended up in the same section of the bracket. No surprise, since they finished third and fourth in their groups.
Arsenal, who topped their group, drew Bayern Munich. Manchester City got Sporting Lisbon, and Chelsea lined up against Barcelona.
After Newcastle’s play-off win over Qarabag, they were slotted into their section of the bracket.
Now that the draw’s done, here’s what’s coming up: Chelsea will take on defending champions PSG, and Newcastle will get Barcelona.
Real Madrid against Manchester City is the pick of the bunch, two giants going toe-to-toe.
Liverpool will face Galatasaray, while Tottenham will meet Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are set to play either Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta – a tricky tie either way.
Here’s the full Champions League last 16 draw for 2025/26:
Manchester City vs Real Madrid
Bodø/Glimt vs Sporting
Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
Newcastle vs Barcelona
Galatasaray vs Liverpool
Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham
Atalanta vs Bayern Munich
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
And for the Europa League quarter-finals:
Paris Saint-Germain/Chelsea vs Galatasaray/Liverpool
Real Madrid/Manchester City vs Atalanta/Bayern Munich
Newcastle/Barcelona vs Tottenham/Atletico Madrid
Bodø/Glimt/Sporting vs Bayer Leverkusen/Arsenal
The Europa League semi-finals shape up like this:
Paris Saint-Germain/Chelsea/Galatasaray/Liverpool vs Real Madrid/Manchester City/Atalanta/Bayern Munich
Newcastle/Barcelona/Tottenham/Atletico Madrid vs Bodo/Glimt/Sporting/Bayer Leverkusen/Arsenal
As for the dates, here’s what you need to know:
Round of 16: March 10/11 & 17/18, 2026
Quarter-finals: April 7/8 & 14/15, 2026
Semi-finals: April 28/29 & May 5/6, 2026
Final: May 30, 2026, in Budapest
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