All 16 Champions League round of 16 participants revealed
The Champions League playoff round has concluded, and now all the teams set to compete in the round of 16 have been determined.
Details: The lineup for the round of 16 is truly star-studded and diverse: both established giants and this season's biggest surprises are entering the fray.
The English Premier League has showcased its sheer dominance, sending a staggering six representatives into the knockout stage. Alongside the usual suspects—Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham—Newcastle has also broken into the elite. Spain's La Liga remains a force, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético all vying for the crown. German football is represented by two Bundesliga sides—Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.
Joining them in the last 16 are France's PSG and Italy's Atalanta, who pulled off one of the stage’s most memorable comebacks and are hungry for more glory. Completing the lineup are Turkey's Galatasaray, Lisbon's Sporting, and arguably the biggest surprise of this year’s tournament—Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, reaching these heights in the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Very soon, UEFA will hold the official draw ceremony, where the teams will be paired up. With this lineup, we could see blockbuster clashes like Real Madrid vs Manchester City or Barcelona vs PSG as early as the round of 16.
The draw itself will take place on Friday, February 27, at 12:00 Central European Time.
Reminder: A Real Madrid fan was ejected from the stadium during the Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica for making a Nazi salute.
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
