Chelsea will face Paris St-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Manchester City is set to meet Real Madrid for the fifth consecutive season. The draw has revealed an exciting lineup for the knockout stages, with six Premier League teams qualifying but no all-English matchups.

Matchups and Schedule

In addition to Chelsea's clash with PSG, Arsenal will take on Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United will face Barcelona, Liverpool will meet Galatasaray, and Tottenham will go up against Atletico Madrid. The first legs of these matches are scheduled for 10 and 11 March, followed by the second legs on 17 and 18 March. Newcastle will host Barcelona in their first leg, while the other Premier League teams will play their second legs at home after qualifying automatically for the knockout stage.

Previous Encounters and Reactions

Chelsea's upcoming match against PSG is a rematch of last year's FIFA Club World Cup final, where Chelsea triumphed over the European champions with a score of 3-0. Chelsea's director of football, David Barnard, acknowledged the challenge ahead but expressed confidence, stating, "It'll be tough but it holds no fear for us." He emphasized the importance of focusing on each game individually.

Manchester City, Newcastle, and Liverpool have all previously faced their respective opponents during the league phase of this season's competition. City's director of football, Hugo Viana, remarked on the significance of their matchup with Real Madrid, calling it "a big game for both teams" and likening it to a final. Liverpool ambassador Ian Rush highlighted the advantage of playing the second leg at Anfield, noting the unique atmosphere that could play a crucial role.

Path to the Final

The route to the final is already mapped out, with potential quarter-final matchups set if Newcastle and Tottenham both advance, as well as Chelsea and Liverpool on the other side of the draw. The Champions League final is scheduled to take place at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, 30 May.

As the tournament progresses, Arsenal stands out as the favorites, having topped the league phase with a perfect record. If they overcome Bayer Leverkusen, they will face either Sporting or Bodo/Glimt in the quarter-finals. Arsenal is given a 27.40% chance of winning the Champions League this season, followed by Bayern Munich at 14.28%, Liverpool at 12.83%, and Manchester City at 10.79%. Chelsea is also seen as having a better chance than Real Madrid, who are ranked at 2.78% despite being record 15-time winners.