16 teams for Champions League knockout stage revealed

Kylian Mbappe (white jersey) looks straight at center-back Josko Gvardiol after scoring to make it 2-0 for Real Madrid against Manchester City in the Champions League play-off game on Feb. 19, 2025. Photo by AFP

The eight play-off winners, Real Madrid, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord, Club Brugge, Bayern Munich and Benfica, will join the eight top performers of the group stage: Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Aston Villa.

This year's round of 16 features strong representation from the major leagues. Three clubs each from the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga; two from Ligue 1 and the Eredivisie, and one each from Serie A, Belgian Pro League, and Portugal's Primeira Liga.

One exciting possibility is a Madrid derby, as Real Madrid could draw either Atletico or Leverkusen. If Atletico avoid their city rivals, they will still face a tough test against Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, PSG's potential opponents include group winners Liverpool or Barcelona, promising a big clash. If Liverpool and Barcelona avoid PSG, they might meet Benfica, who knocked out AS Monaco in the play-offs.

Italy's Serie A presence is limited to one team, Inter, after AC Milan, Atalanta and Juventus, were eliminated in the play-offs. Inter will take on either Feyenoord or PSV, both of whom advanced by defeating AC Milan and Juventus. Arsenal may also face one of the Dutch sides, while Aston Villa will encounter either Club Brugge or Borussia Dortmund.

The Champions League round of 16 draw is set for Friday at 6 p.m. (Hanoi time), in Nyon, Switzerland. Group winners will host the second legs. The tournament's two top group-stage performers, Liverpool and Barcelona, are on separate branches and could only meet in the final.