2025-26 Champions League round of 16 schedule: games, teams, dates, and times
Real Madrid vs Manchester City is the pick of the matchups and Europe’s biggest names continue their quest for Champions League glory.
Things start to get really serious in the 2025-26 Champions League this week with the start of the round of 16. Real Madrid against Manchester City is the pick of the matchups in a round that features no fewer than six Premier League teams.
Big names back in action
Eight of the remaining 16 contenders - Liverpool, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Chelsea, Sporting, and Manchester City - play their first games in the tournament this season. They qualified automatically for the last 16 by finishing in the top eight of the initial league phase.
These teams now take on the eight winners from the knockout phase playoffs: Galatasaray, Newcastle United, Atlético Madrid, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, PSG, Bodø/Glimt, and Real Madrid, all competing for a spot in the quarterfinals.
The draw for the quarterfinals, along with the bracket for the rest of the tournament, has already been set. Each team knows exactly what awaits them should they progress.
2025-26 Champions League round of 16 matchups
The first legs of the round of 16 take place this week, with the second legs scheduled for next week.
First legs
Tuesday, March 10
- Galatasaray vs Liverpool, 1:45 p.m. ET
- Newcastle United vs Barcelona, 4 p.m. ET
- Atlético Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur, 4 p.m. ET
- Atalanta vs Bayern Munich, 4 p.m. ET
Wednesday, March 11
- Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal, 1:45 p.m. ET
- PSG vs Chelsea, 4 p.m. ET
- Bodø/Glimt vs Sporting Clube, 4 p.m. ET
- Real Madrid vs Manchester City, 4 p.m. ET
Second legs
Tuesday, March 17
- Sporting Clube vs Bodø/Glimt, 1:45 p.m. ET
- Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen, 4 p.m. ET
- Chelsea vs PSG, 4 p.m. ET
- Manchester City vs Real Madrid, 4 p.m. ET
Wednesday, March 18
- Barcelona vs Newcastle United, 1:45 p.m. ET
- Liverpool vs Galatasaray, 4 p.m. ET
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Atlético Madrid, 4 p.m. ET
- Bayern Munich vs Atalanta, 4 p.m. ET
What happens if there’s a tie?
Although a staple of the Champions League for most of its history, the away goals rule is no longer in use in any UEFA competition. If teams are level at the end of the second leg, 30 minutes of extra time (two periods of 15 minutes) will be played. If the score remains tied, a penalty shootout will determine the winner.
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