Champions League Last 16: Blockbusters Kick Off March 10

Europe's Elite Return to the Stage

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout phase gets underway this week, with eight mouth-watering ties across the round of 16. First legs on March 10–11 will be followed by second legs on March 17–18, setting the path to the final at Budapest's Puskás Aréna on May 30, 2026.

The draw, which took place on February 27, served up a marquee slate that has generated enormous anticipation across the continent. No away goals rule applies — if sides are level on aggregate after 180 minutes, ties go to extra time and penalties, raising the stakes in every encounter.

The Blockbuster Tie: PSG vs. Chelsea

The glamour match of the round sees Paris Saint-Germain host Chelsea at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, March 11, with the return leg at Stamford Bridge on March 17. PSG, the reigning European champions, go in as favourites — but history between these clubs is vivid.

Just last summer, Chelsea humiliated PSG 3–0 in the FIFA Club World Cup final, a result that reportedly fuelled a fierce desire for revenge in Paris. The clubs previously clashed in Champions League knockout rounds in 2014, 2015, and 2016, making this a rivalry with deep roots.

PSG arrive in strong Ligue 1 form — nine wins in their last ten league games — though they scraped past Monaco 5–4 on aggregate in the playoff round. Chelsea qualified impressively with a 3–2 away win at Napoli in the league phase but remain inconsistent domestically, their young squad prone to errors. Prediction models, according to WinComparator, give Chelsea a narrow edge, but analysts are far from convinced Enzo Maresca's side can go through.

The Rivalry Renewed: Real Madrid vs. Manchester City

Real Madrid versus Manchester City needs no introduction. This is their fourth consecutive Champions League knockout meeting, a rivalry that has defined the competition in recent years. City won 2–1 at the Bernabéu in the league phase back in December, offering Pep Guardiola's side a psychological foothold.

Yet Real arrive at Bernabéu battered by the injury table: Ferland Mendy, Daniel Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and — potentially — Kylian Mbappé are all doubt or ruled out, according to Real Madrid's official website. For City, six losses in their last 12 Champions League matches underline a club still searching for its best European form.

The Full Picture

The complete round of 16 lineup, drawn on February 27, features compelling ties across all eight fixtures:

• Galatasaray vs. Liverpool (first leg: March 10)
• Atalanta vs. Bayern Munich (March 10)
• Atlético Madrid vs. Tottenham (March 10)
• Newcastle vs. Barcelona (March 10)
• Bayer Leverkusen vs. Arsenal (March 11)
• Bodø/Glimt vs. Sporting CP (March 11)
• PSG vs. Chelsea (March 11)
• Real Madrid vs. Manchester City (March 11)

The quarter-final draw has already been made, meaning teams know exactly where a victory leads. Winners from this phase advance to quarter-finals scheduled for April 7–8 and April 14–15, with semi-finals on April 28–29 and May 5–6.

Road to Budapest

With five of England's Premier League clubs — Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham — still in contention alongside European heavyweights Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona, the competition has rarely offered such breadth of elite quality. The absence of the away goals rule means every goal at home and away carries exactly equal weight, rewarding ambition over caution throughout.

The journey to Budapest starts now. By March 18, the quarterfinalists will be known — and the shape of Europe's biggest prize will become much clearer.