Champions League last 16 kicks off next week with Newcastle facing Barcelona and Real Madrid meeting Man City
The group stage feels like a distant memory. Months of league-phase football whittled 36 teams down to 16, and next week the real business begins. The Champions League Round of 16 first legs take place on March 10 and 11, with the return fixtures on March 17 and 18.
Tuesday, March 10
Newcastle host Barcelona at St James' Park. Both sides qualified comfortably from the new league phase, but this tie feels evenly matched on paper. Eddie Howe's side have been resurgent domestically, while Barcelona carry the weight of expectation they always do in Europe.
Galatasaray welcome Liverpool to Istanbul, a city that always carries extra weight for Liverpool fans given the 2005 Champions League final at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium. Atalanta face Bayern Munich in Bergamo, while Atletico Madrid host Tottenham in a tie that pits Diego Simeone's side against a Spurs team sitting 16th in the Premier League on just 29 points.
Wednesday, March 11
The standout fixture across both nights is Real Madrid against Manchester City. These two have become familiar foes in the Champions League knockouts, with City winning the 2022-23 semi-final en route to lifting the trophy. Pep Guardiola returns to the Bernabeu with City sitting second in the Premier League on 60 points, seven behind Arsenal.
Bayer Leverkusen host Arsenal at the BayArena. Paris Saint-Germain face Chelsea at the Parc des Princes. The final tie sends Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt up against Sporting CP.
Five English clubs in the draw
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham all made it through to the last 16. For Premier League fans, it means European football on every midweek night next week. The contrast in domestic form is stark: Arsenal lead the league, while Spurs are scrapping to stay up. Both will fancy their chances in Europe, though for very different reasons.
Home advantage in the first leg could prove decisive, particularly for teams like Galatasaray and Atalanta whose grounds are notoriously hostile for visiting sides. The atmosphere at St James' Park under the lights will not be easy for Barcelona either.
