Six Premier League clubs remain in the Champions League as the last-16 draw approaches, following the conclusion of the playoff round. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea secured automatic berths, while Newcastle United joined them after a convincing 9-2 aggregate victory over Qarabag.
The draw, scheduled for Friday morning, will also reveal the potential route to the final in Budapest. Chelsea could face fellow Premier League side Newcastle or Paris Saint-Germain, who overcame Monaco 4-3 on aggregate in the playoffs. Newcastle’s other potential opponent is Barcelona, the Spanish champions who finished fifth in the league stage.
Arsenal’s possible opponents are Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta, the latter after a stunning comeback against Borussia Dortmund. Manchester City will be paired with either Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid, both sides they faced in the group phase. City struggled against Bodo/Glimt in the Arctic Circle but beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Liverpool, the reigning Premier League champions, face a tough draw with Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray as potential opponents. Atletico thumped Club Brugge in the playoffs, while Galatasaray edged past Juventus after extra time. The draw will determine the exact matchups for the knockout stage.
