The Gauntlet is Set: 2026 Champions League Round of 16 Draw Reactions
Joe Cervenka
Host · Writer
Champions League Round of 16 Draw: Real Madrid vs. Man City Again, Arsenal Face Leverkusen
The “awkwardly named" league phase is finally in the rearview, and the real drama of the Champions League began today in Nyon. We saw the eight playoff survivors—headlined by reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain and the ever-present Real Madrid—thrown into the hat alongside the seeded giants who coasted through the winter.
While the new format has changed the “pre-knockout" feel, the bracket revealed today proves one thing: the road to the Puskás Aréna on May 30 will be a war of attrition.
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The “Death, Taxes, and Man City vs. Real" Draw
It just had to be. For the fifth consecutive season, Manchester City and Real Madrid will clash in the knockout stages. This has become the defining rivalry of the modern era. After Pep Guardiola’s side took a narrow 2-1 win in the league phase earlier this season, the stakes in March will be exponentially higher.
Elsewhere, Arsenal received what some might call a “favourable" draw, though a trip to face Bayer Leverkusen is hardly a walk in the park. For Galatasaray, fresh off an extra-time thriller against Juventus where Victor Osimhen proved decisive, their reward is a daunting date with Liverpool.
Confirmed UCL Round of 16 Schedule (All Times ET)
| Matchup | Leg 1 (Date / Time) | Leg 2 (Date / Time) |
| Galatasaray vs. Liverpool | Tue, Mar 10 @ 1:45 p.m. | Wed, Mar 18 @ 4:00 p.m. |
| Newcastle vs. Barcelona | Tue, Mar 10 @ 4:00 p.m. | Wed, Mar 18 @ 1:45 p.m. |
| Atlético Madrid vs. Tottenham | Tue, Mar 10 @ 4:00 p.m. | Wed, Mar 18 @ 1:45 p.m. |
| Atalanta vs. Bayern München | Tue, Mar 10 @ 4:00 p.m. | Wed, Mar 18 @ 4:00 p.m. |
| Leverkusen vs. Arsenal | Wed, Mar 11 @ 1:45 p.m. | Tue, Mar 17 @ 4:00 p.m. |
| Bodø/Glimt vs. Sporting CP | Wed, Mar 11 @ 4:00 p.m. | Tue, Mar 17 @ 1:45 p.m. |
| PSG vs. Chelsea | Wed, Mar 11 @ 4:00 p.m. | Tue, Mar 17 @ 4:00 p.m. |
| Real Madrid vs. Man City | Wed, Mar 11 @ 4:00 p.m. | Tue, Mar 17 @ 4:00 p.m. |
We’re picking Bayern to win the UEFA Champions League. Find out why here.
To keep the momentum going heading into the Round of 16, here are the opening odds for each of the high-stakes first-leg matchups.
The oddsmakers clearly have their favorites, with Arsenal (-160) and Liverpool (-130) entering their road trips as notable frontrunners to take an early advantage.
UCL Round of 16: First Leg Odds (3-Way Moneyline)
| Matchup | Home Odds | Draw Odds | Away Odds |
| Galatasaray vs. Liverpool | +320 | +300 | -130 |
| Atalanta vs. Bayern Munich | +350 | +320 | -145 |
| Atletico Madrid vs. Tottenham | -155 | +300 | +410 |
| Newcastle vs. Barcelona | +165 | +270 | +145 |
| Leverkusen vs. Arsenal | +460 | +300 | -160 |
| Bodo/Glimt vs. Sporting CP | +165 | +260 | +150 |
| Real Madrid vs. Man City | +175 | +270 | +140 |
| PSG vs. Chelsea | -135 | +300 | +340 |
Spain is our pick to win the 2026 World Cup. Find out why here.
Betting Breakdown: Value vs. Vulnerability
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The Heavyweights: Manchester City (+140) and Real Madrid (+175) is almost a toss-up, reflecting just how thin the margins are between the two favorites for a title run.
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Home Defense: Atletico Madrid (-155) and PSG (-135) are the most trusted home sides on the board, with the oddsmakers expecting their defensive identities to stifle Tottenham and Chelsea, respectively.
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The Underdog Story: Despite their historic “miracle" run, Galatasaray (+320) enters as a significant underdog against Liverpool as they look for another upset on home soil.
Mapping the Path to Budapest
UEFA didn’t just stop at the Round of 16; the entire bracket through the final has been mapped out.
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Quarterfinal 1: PSG/Chelsea vs. Galatasaray/Liverpool
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Quarterfinal 2: Real Madrid/Man City vs. Atalanta/Bayern München
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Quarterfinal 3: Newcastle/Barcelona vs. Atleti/Tottenham
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Quarterfinal 4: Bodø/Glimt/Sporting CP vs. Leverkusen/Arsenal
The winner of the Man City/Real Madrid blockbuster is effectively on a collision course with either Bayern or Atalanta in the final eight. If Arsenal and Liverpool take care of business, they avoid the “City/Real/Bayern" side of the bracket until the final.
