The Champions League last-16 draw takes place on Friday, with several English clubs learning their fate following the conclusion of knockout playoffs this week. Newcastle United secured their place in the round of 16 after a commanding 9-3 aggregate victory over Qarabag, and will face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the next stage of the competition.
According to the tournament structure, Newcastle will discover on Friday whether Tottenham or Liverpool could be potential quarter-final opponents. The draw will also reveal if they are on course for a possible semi-final clash with Manchester City or Arsenal.
Champions League Draw Determines English Clubs’ Path
Tuesday night’s playoff matches confirmed several last-16 matchups. Atletico Madrid progressed and will face either Tottenham or Liverpool, while Bodo/Glimt eliminated Inter Milan to set up a tie with Manchester City or Sporting. Additionally, Bayer Leverkusen will play Bayern Munich or Arsenal in the knockout rounds.
Wednesday’s fixtures will complete the Champions League last-16 picture. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain hold a 3-2 lead before hosting Monaco, with the winner facing Chelsea or Barcelona. Meanwhile, Galatasaray have a 5-2 advantage over Juventus for the opportunity to play Liverpool or Tottenham.
Potential All-English Encounters
The earliest opportunity for two English sides to meet is in the last 16, when Newcastle could face Chelsea. However, other all-English meetings cannot occur until the quarter-finals, when Manchester City might meet Arsenal and Chelsea or Newcastle could encounter Tottenham or Liverpool.
The tournament format means teams can play opponents from their own country and sides they have already faced in the competition. Nevertheless, teams which didn’t require a playoff will be seeded, allowing them to play the second leg of their last-16 ties at home.
Draw Format and Scheduling
On Friday February 27, the draw for the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be conducted simultaneously. Arsenal, by virtue of topping the league phase standings, will play the second leg at home for as far as they progress in the competition.
The round of 16 match schedule will be available on Friday evening, according to tournament officials. The quarter-final match schedule will be confirmed on March 19, while the semi-final schedule will be communicated on April 16.
English Clubs’ Coefficient Success
The Premier League is in an extremely strong position to have its top five clubs playing in the Champions League next season. England currently leads UEFA’s coefficient table with 21.736 points, maintaining a 5.136-point advantage over third-placed Portugal.
All nine English clubs remain in the three European competitions this season. The coefficient is calculated by awarding points for wins and draws, then dividing the total by the number of clubs each country has playing in Europe.
If English sides continue performing well in Europe this season, fifth place in the Premier League is almost certain to receive a Champions League place. This could benefit clubs such as Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in their pursuit of European qualification.
Financial Implications
Qualifying for the Champions League in its new expanded format means English clubs can expect to make tens of millions of pounds from the 36-team league phase. According to financial blogger Swiss Ramble, Manchester City and Liverpool have made £84m each so far this season, with Arsenal earning £83m, Chelsea £80m and Tottenham £73m.
The 2025/26 Champions League final will take place at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday May 30. Live coverage of Friday’s draw will be available on the Sky Sports website and app from 11am, with the fixture schedule confirmed later that evening.
