The UEFA Champions League wrapped up its playoff games earlier this Wednesday, Feb. 25. And now, the remaining 16 Champions League sides, including Barcelona, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool, have learned their fate for the rest of the knockout stages.
UEFA Champions League Draw Sees Notable Matchups in Round of 16
Earlier on Friday, Feb. 27, the Champions League round of 16, quarter-final, and semi-final draw took place at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. The seeded teams and the unseeded clubs were included in two separate pots for the draw.
Barcelona, who finished fifth in the league phase, are set to take on English side Newcastle United at the last-16 stage. Their opponents defeated Azerbaijani outfit Qarabag 9-3 across two legs of the playoff round after achieving a 12th-place finish last month.
The confirmed round of 16 draw ✅#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/PVhNIIZngZ
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 27, 2026
Chelsea, on the other hand, have been drawn against reigning Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The Blues and the Parisians ended sixth and 11th in the league phase table, with the latter beating fellow French side AS Monaco 5-4 in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Premier League leaders Arsenal will face German outfit Bayer Leverkusen in the next round. The Gunners topped the league phase standings, and the Bundesliga club, who finished 16th, recently eased past Greek side Olympiacos 2-0 on aggregate.
Liverpool are scheduled to lock horns with Turkish giants Galatasaray after securing a third-place finish in the league phase. Their round of 16 opponents knocked Italian side Juventus out with a 7-5 aggregate victory in the playoffs after previously finishing in 20th place.
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Prior to the draw, Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen had claimed that he would dislike the Anfield team as their Champions League round of 16 opponents. “Meeting Liverpool now is going to be like some sort of revenge. I would like to escape them,” he said.
“But if they come, we’re going to dig it out but it’s not going to be easy. If you want to win, you also have to play the big dogs and make a statement for yourself. We’ve met Liverpool but we haven’t played them at Anfield. If we meet them, it’s going to be an amazing game. I think we’re up to the task, we have fight in us,” the Nigerian concluded.
Galatasaray tasted success in their previous encounter against the Reds, beating them 1-0 after Osimhen’s first-half penalty at the Rams Park in Istanbul on Sep. 30, 2025.
The two Champions League round of 16 legs will be held on Mar. 10/11 and Mar. 17/18.
