What Bodo-Glimt have done matches Porto and Leicester – but it’s also a warning
The Champions League knockout stage draw takes place this morning as Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham discover not only their last-16 opponents, but their potential route to the Budapest final.
For the first time, there are six English teams through to the last-16 of the competition, with the potential for several all-Premier League clashes once the bracket is set: Newcastle, for example, will draw either Chelsea or Barcelona in the round of 16.
Arsenal, who topped the league phase, will play Bayer Leverkusen or Atlanta, while their Premier League title rivals Manchester City await to see if they face another blockbuster clash with Real Madrid or a rematch with surprise package Bodo/Glimt.
Liverpool and Tottenham are paired together in the draw – one will play Atletico Madrid while the other will meet Galatasaray – while Chelsea will either take on Newcastle or Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain.
This morning’s draw will not just create the last-16 schedule, but will reveal the path of the Champions League final, as teams also discover who they could face if they progress to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
Follow live updates from the Champions League draw, below:
Champions League draw LIVE: Latest updates as road to final revealed
Arsenal and Man City will play their Champions League second leg before Carabao Cup final
March promises to be a major month for all six English teams in today’s draw – for example, Arsenal and Manchester City have the Premier League title race, the Carabao Cup final, and the FA Cup fifth round to play, as well as the Champions League last-16.
The Carabao Cup final is set for Sunday 22 March – with the Champions League last-16 second legs then taking place that midweek.
Arsenal will be at home for their last-16 second leg on Tuesday March 17, likely the same night that Manchester City plays their second leg, also at home.
(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 10:35
Will we see a Newcastle v Chelsea fixture pile-up?
As outlined earlier this morning, there is a 50/50 chance that Newcastle play Chelsea in the Champions League last-16. If not, Newcastle will play Barcelona and Chelsea will play PSG.
If there is an all-English tie, though, the teams will play each other three times in a row – as the Champions League dates will fall either side of their Premier League fixture meeting on Saturday 14th March. If that is the case, the run will be as follows:
10/11 March 2026: Newcastle v Chelsea – Champions League first leg
14 March 2026: Chelsea v Newcastle – Premier League
17/18 March 2026: Chelsea v Newcastle – Champions League second leg
Chelsea and Newcastle could play each other three times in a row (Action Images via Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 10:20
Gordon keeping Mbappe, Kane, Haaland company in goalscorer chart
Anthony Gordon’s hat-trick against Qarabag took his Champions League tally to 10 goals this season, as the Newcastle and England winger rivals Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland in the race for the Champions League top scorer award.
- 1 – Kylian Mbappe, 13 goals, eight games
- 2 – Anthony Gordon, 10 goals, 10 games
- 3 – Harry Kane, 8 goals, eight games
- 4 – Erling Haaland – 7 goals, eight games
- 5 – Victor Osimhen – 7 goals, eight games
(AP)
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 10:05
Real Madrid’s win a ‘victory for everyone who stands against racism’, says Aurelien Tchouameni
Real Madrid’s win against Benfica in the Champions League was a “victory for everyone who stands against racism”, according to midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, as Vinicius Jr scored the decisive goal a week after he accused opponent Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racist slur at him.
Vinicius said “the dance goes on” as he posted on Instagram after sending Real Madrid through to the last-16 with a 2-1 win at the Bernabeu. The Brazilian forward said he was racially abused by Prestianni after celebrating towards the Benfica fans in last week’s first leg in Lisbon.
Prestianni, who denies the allegations, was provisionally suspended from the match while Uefa investigates the incident. But there was an outpouring of support from the Real Madrid supporters, with a “no to racism” banner displayed before kick-off.
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 09:50
Who are Bodo/Glimt? How Norwegian minnows pulled off the Champions League’s biggest ever shock
Norway’s Bodo/Glimt’s fairytale run in the Champions League continued as they knocked out last year’s finalists Inter Milan in one of the tournament’s biggest ever shocks.
A season on from becoming the first Norwegian side to reach the semi-finals of a European competition, following their impressive run in the Europa League, head coach Kjetil Knutsen’s minnows have continued their remarkable rise by qualifying for the Champions League last-16, and as tournament debutants.
Bodo/Glimt, who were in Norway’s second-tier as recently as 2017, are the northernmost team to ever play in the Champions League. Based in the small town of Bodo, a 16-hour drive north of Oslo and inside the edge of the Arctic Circle, its whole population of 55,000 could have travelled to Inter’s iconic San Siro and there still would have been plenty of empty seats.
Bodo/Glimt also operate on a budget that is a fraction of the size of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 09:35
Arsenal will play either Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta
After topping the league phase, Arsenal will be hopeful of a favourable draw as they ready themselves for the Champions League round of 16.
Mikel Arteta’s side won all eight of their games for the concession of just four goals in an impressive start to their continental campaign.
The stakes will be raised, though, by knockout football and Arteta will have to manage the demands of also chasing a long-awaited Premier League title.
Having been paired with Bayern Munich, the second-placed league phase finisher, Arsenal now know that it will be one of two sides in the last 16.
The London club will face one of Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen.
Leverkusen secured a place in the last-16 after a 0-0 draw with Olympiacos completed a 2-0 aggregate win, while Atalanta completed a comeback from 2-0 down from the first leg to knock out Borussia Dortmund.
(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 09:20
Will it be Real Madrid again for Man City? Or Bodo/Glimt?
Manchester City will continue their chase for more Champions League success as they find out their round of 16 opponents.
Pep Guardiola’s remain in the hunt for four trophies this season having narrowed the gap to Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, and may fancy their chances of a deep run in Europe.
Despite a couple of set-backs, City successfully navigated into the top eight in the league phase and avoided the knockout play-offs, and now await their next opposition having been paired with Sporting Lisbon.
A glamour tie with Real Madrid, who they have played in each of the last four seasons, could await, or might it be another trip north to face Bodo/Glimt?
The Norwegian side defeated Guardiola’s team 3-1 in January, and have continued their remarkable journey by knocking out last year’s runners-up Inter Milan 5-2 on aggregate.
(Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 09:05
Liverpool to face a rematch with either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray
Following an up-and-down league phase, Liverpool booked a direct route into the last 16 of the Champions League and now wait to see who their opponents will be.
Arne Slot’s side ultimately won six and lost two of their eight games to claim third spot in the table, although endured a couple of rough spots during that spell – most notably when suffering a humiliating 4-1 home defeat to PSV in November.
But they are safely into the knockouts and in a season where a proper Premier League title challenge has failed to materialise, Europe offers an opportunity to still pick up some silverware.
The Reds also played both Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray in the league phase and will now face one of those teams in the last-16.
They beat Atletico 3-2 thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s last-minute header, but lost 1-0 to Galatasaray in Turkey – the second loss of a four-game losing slump in September and October.
Liverpool lost 1-0 to Galatasaray after Victor Osimhen’s penalty (REUTERS)
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 08:50
Tottenham’s potential Champions League opponents ahead of last 16 draw
With their form in the Premier League putting them at risk of relegation from the English top flight Tottenham are seeking solace in the the Champions League and the excitement that comes European nights under the lights.
Spurs impressed during the league phase and finished fourth in the table behind only Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Liverpool. They won five of their eight matches and only lost once with that defeat coming at the Parc de Princes in a 5-3 scoreline against Paris Saint-Germain.
They will face either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray.
Alexander Sorloth scored a hat-trick as Atletico eventually progressed past Club Brugge 7-4 on aggregate, after the Belgian side came from 2-0 and 3-2 to snatch a 3-3 draw on home soil last week.
Victor Osimhen and Baris Alper Yilmaz scored in extra time for Galatasaray as the Turkish club knocked out Juventus, winning 7-5 on aggregate.
Could Conor Gallagher return to Atletico Madrid after joining Tottenham? (AFP via Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 08:35
Chelsea’s other potential opponent is holders Paris Saint-Germain
Chelsea will be hoping to plot another deep run in the Champions League as they prepare to find out their round of 16 opposition.
The Premier League side secured a top-eight finish during the initial phase despite parting ways with manager Enzo Maresca, and Liam Rosenior will now have a chance to oversee his first European knockout campaign.
Twice winners of the competition, Chelsea have a good recent trophy record, following up Conference League success with a Club World Cup crown last summer, though will perhaps covet this rather more.
There could be English opposition next up, with Newcastle demolishing Qarabag 9-3 on aggregate, and Paris Saint-Germain the other possibility.
Defending champions PSG led Monaco 3-2 after the first leg and a 2-2 at the Parc de Princes was enough to send them through. Barcelona will play whoever is not drawn against Chelsea.
(Getty)
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 08:20
