4 min learnNew DelhiUp to date: Feb 26, 2026 09:37 PM IST
The Champions League as soon as once more delivered on all fronts of leisure because the playoff knockouts got here to an finish. The brand new Champions League format opts for a league part, versus teams, the place all 36 groups face 8 totally different golf equipment. The highest 8 superior on to the spherical of 16, whereas the groups sitting in ninth to twenty fourth confronted off in opposition to one another to e-book a spot within the subsequent spherical.
When and the place is the UCL draw?
The draw for the spherical of 16 – in addition to quarterfinals and the trail ahead – is going on on Friday, at 11 am GMT (4.30 pm IST) in Nyon, Switzerland.
Which groups are within the Champions League spherical of 16?
The 8 groups who progressed on first calling had been, so as, Arsenal (8 wins), Bayern Munich (7 wins), Liverpool (6 wins), Tottenham Hotspur (5 wins), Barcelona (5 wins), Chelsea (5 wins), Sporting Lisbon (5 wins), and Manchester Metropolis (5 wins).
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The next groups joined after the playoff spherical: Atlético Madrid, Newcastle, Bayer Leverkusen, and Bodo/Glimt on Wednesday, and Atalanta, Galatasaray, PSG, and Actual Madrid on Thursday.
What occurred within the KO playoffs?
As is customized for Champions League knockout matches, these playoffs delivered targets, targets and extra targets throughout two legs. The ultimate tally got here as much as 64 targets throughout 16 video games.
Holders PSG narrowly went previous Monaco 5-4 on combination. A dominant first-leg win in opposition to Juventus ensured Galatasaray’s entry to the subsequent spherical, with the Turkish facet successful 7-5 on combination after 180 minutes, regardless of a stirring fightback by the Italian giants to stage at 5-5.
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Vinicius Jr and Actual Madrid bought the higher of Jose Mourinho’s Benfica, after the primary leg was marred due to alleged racist feedback made by a Benfica participant. The ultimate rating was 3-1, and Vini Jr. was on the scoresheet as properly. Atalanta, the one Italian facet within the spherical of 16, went by means of with their final kick of the sport versus Borussia Dortmund, getting back from 2-0 down within the first leg to win 4-3 total.
The largest margin of victory belonged to the one English facet within the playoffs, as Newcastle demolished Azerbaijani facet Qarabag 9-3. After a scare within the first sport, Atlético Madrid dispatched Membership Brugge within the subsequent, successful the tie 7-4 on combination.
Norway’s Bodo/Glimt delivered probably the most important upset of the draw, showcasing cool and picked up performances to defeat Inter Milan 5-2 on combination. Lastly, Bayer Leverkusen overcame Olympiacos 2-0 in complete.
Champions League Playoff leads to full (combination over two legs)
- PSG 5 – 4 Monaco
- Galatasaray 7 – 5 Juventus
- Actual Madrid 3 – 1 Benfica
- Atalanta 4 – 3 Borussia Dortmund
- Newcastle 9 – 3 Qarabag
- Atlético Madrid 7 – 4 Membership Brugge
- Bodo/Glimt 5 – 2 Inter Milan
- Bayer Leverkusen 2 – 0 Olympiacos
How does the Champions League draw work now?
The eight groups that certified by means of the league part are seeded, giving them the house benefit for the second leg of the spherical of 16. This seeding benefit continues by means of the match: the highest 4 groups host the second leg of the quarterfinals, and the highest two groups do the identical for the semifinals.
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If a seeded workforce is eradicated, the workforce that defeated them assumes that seeding place for the rest of the competitors. The trail to the ultimate will likely be clearer for groups after Friday and no extra attracts will happen after this one.
What are the potential large matches within the spherical of 16?
With large groups like Actual Madrid, PSG and Atletico Madrid coming by means of the playoffs, there are some potential blockbusters lined up within the prequarterfinal stage. Actual Madrid might face Manchester Metropolis in a conflict of giants and serial winners in what would undoubtedly be the match to be careful for. The opposite blockbuster probably is Chelsea or Barcelona vs defending champions PSG.
(Diya George is an intern with The Indian Categorical).