The football Champions League returns with the round-robin matches of the round of 16 elimination phase. In total, there will be three duels between La Liga teams and Premier League teams.
The round starts with an interesting duel between the Turks and the English in Istanbul. Galatasaray surprised Juventus with a decisive victory at home, in the round, score 5-2, but it will be much more difficult to repeat the performance against the champions of England. The Turks have already won in the group stage at home against Slot’s team, 1-0, even when the “cormorants” were going through their weakest period of the season at the end of September.
Aside from that and their fluctuating form, Liverpool have been a scoring team away from home, managing one or two goals in seven of their last nine official away games. In the Champions League, they beat Chivu’s Inter away. The hosts have conceded one or two goals in six of their last seven games at Rams Park. The two teams played before in Istanbul, in the group stage. On February 26, 2002, a game led by Urs Meier ended 1-1. Romanian Radu Niculescu scored for Galata with a header. Emile Heskey equalised.
Atalanta, pursued by the Germans
After a spectacular comeback against Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta meet the most feared team in Germany, the mighty Bayern Munich, one of the favorites to win the League trophy. Italy’s last representative in the competition scored and conceded more than one goal per game in the group stage (scored 10 goals and conceded 10 in eight games), as well as at home (scored six and conceded five in four games). Atalanta are therefore expected to score at least one goal against Bayern, who have the second most prolific attack in the group stage (22 goals) but have conceded one goal per game (eight). The team from Bergamo have scored in the last eight official matches played at home, and the German team has not kept a goal in any game this season.
Tottenham, Radu Drăgușin’s team, meets Atletico Madrid
Despite a surprising failure with Bodo/Glimt, Atletico Madrid remain a formidable team at home this season with a huge appetite for goals. Nine of Atlético’s 10 Champions League games this season (including all at home) have had at least three goals, as have eight of Tottenham Hotspur’s last 11 official games, a team that looks better in Europe than in the Premier League despite its defensive problems. However, Radu Drăgușin’s side, who are facing a crisis in the Premier League, have exceeded two goals per game in the group stage (17 in eight) and have more than one goal per game in the domestic championship (38 in 28).
The most important matches of the UCL 2026 round of 16
Barça play Newcastle in an elimination duel in which they are favourites, but Newcastle, although going through a difficult season, are not an opponent to be taken lightly. The two teams met in the first stage of the group stage, also in England, and Flick’s team prevailed 2-1, with Marcus Rashford scoring a “double”. Eight of the Englishmen’s 10 Champions League games have had at least three goals, as have all eight of the Catalans’ in the group stages, and Barcelona have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of them, so we expect goals and action in both boxes.
Bodo/Glimt face Sporting, after eliminating Chivu in the play-off
The surprise of the round is Bodo, who eliminated Cristian Chivu. The Nordics have a match against the Portuguese from Sporting Lisbon. The hottest game is held in Spain, between Real Madrid and Manchester City, which has become a “classic” duel.
The optimal program
Tuesday
Galatasaray – Liverpool 19:45
Atalanta – Bayern Munich 22:00
Atletico Madrid – Tottenham 22:00
Newcastle – Barcelona 22:00
Wednesday
Leverkusen – Arsenal 19:45
Bodo/Glimt – Sporting 22:00
PSG – Chelsea 22:00
Real Madrid – Manchester City 22:00
