English sides discover their fate as the 25/26 Champions, Europa and Conference League Route to the final draws are revealed.
Heading into the Champions League round of 16 draw, we knew top seeds Arsenal would be drawn against Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta, Liverpool and Tottenham, who finished third and fourth respectively in the league phase, would meet either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray, Manchester City would be drawn against one of Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid, Chelsea would take on either Newcastle or Paris St-Germain, and Newcastle would face either Chelsea or Barcelona.
There are still English sides in the Europa League, with Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest both in the hat for their Round of 16 draw. Villa would face either Celta de Vigo or LOSC Lille. For Forest, it was either FC Midtjylland or Real Betis.
Then we have Crystal Palace in the Conference League, who knew they would face either Germany’s Mainz 05 or Cyprus’ AEK Larnaca in the round of 16 draw.
Champions League – Round of 16 draw
Manchester City (England) v Real Madrid (Spain)
Bodo/Glimt (Norway) v Sporting (Portugal)
Paris St-Germain (France) v Chelsea (England)
Newcastle (England) v Barcelona (Spain)
Galatasaray (Turkey) v Liverpool (England)
Atletico Madrid (Spain) v Tottenham (England)
Atalanta (Italy) v Bayern Munich (Germany)
Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) v Arsenal (England)
Champions League – Quarter-finals draw
Paris/Chelsea vs Galatasaray/Liverpool
Real Madrid/Man City vs Atalanta/Bayern
Newcastle/Barcelona vs Atleti/Tottenham
Bodø/Glimt/Sporting CP vs Leverkusen/Arsenal
Champions League – Semi-finals draw
Paris/Chelsea/Galatasaray/Liverpool vs Real Madrid/Man City/Atalanta/Bayern
Newcastle/Barcelona/Atleti/Tottenham vs Bodø/Glimt/Sporting CP/Leverkusen/Arsenal
When are the Champions League matches?
Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026
Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026
Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)
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Europa League – Round of 16 draw
Ferencvaros (Hungary) v Braga (Portugal)
Panathinaikos (Greece) v Real Betis (Spain)
Genk (Belgium) v Freiburg (Germany)
Celta Vigo (Spain) v Lyon (France)
Stuttgart (Germany) v Porto (Portugal)
Nottingham Forest (England) v Midtjylland (Denmark)
Bologna (Italy) v Roma (Italy)
Lille (France) v Aston Villa (England)
Europa League – Quarter-finals draw
1 Ferencváros / Braga vs Panathinaikos / Real Betis
2 Genk / Freiburg vs Celta / Lyon
3 Stuttgart / Porto vs Nottingham Forest / Midtjylland
4 Bologna / Roma vs Lille / Aston Villa
Europa League – Semi-finals draw
1 Quarter-final 1 vs Quarter-final 2
2 Quarter-final 3 vs Quarter-final 4
When do the Europa League round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals take place?
Round of 16: 12 & 19 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 9 & 16 April 2026
Semi-finals: 30 April & 7 May 2026
Final: 20 May 2026 (Istanbul)
However, the UEFA administration decides match dates and fixture reversals on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Principles set by the UEFA Club Competitions Committee for Stadium and City Clashes. UEFA will confirm the calendar, including match dates and kick-off times soon.
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Conference League – Round of 16 draw
Lech Poznań (Poland) v Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands) v Sparta Praha (Czech Republic)
Crystal Palace (England) v AEK Larnaca (Cyprus)
Fiorentina (Italy) v Raków Częstochowa (Poland)
Samsunspor (Turkey) v Rayo Vallecano (Spain)
Celje (Slovenia) v AEK Athens (Greece)
Sigma Olomouc (Czech Republic) v Mainz 05 (Geramny)
Rijeka (Croatia) v Strasbourg (France)
Conference League – Quarter-finals draw
1 Lech Poznań / Shakhtar Donetsk vs AZ Alkmaar / Sparta Praha
2 Crystal Palace / AEK Larnaca vs Fiorentina / Raków
3 Samsunspor / Rayo Vallecano vs Celje / AEK Athens
4 Sigma Olomouc / Mainz vs Rijeka / Strasbourg
Conference League – Semi-finals draw
Lech Poznań/Shakhtar/AZ Alkmaar/Sparta Praha vs Crystal Palace/AEK Larnaca/Fiorentina/Raków
Samsunspor/Rayo Vallecano/Celje/AEK Athens vs Sigma Olomouc/Mainz/Rijeka/Strasbour
What are the Conference League knockout phase dates?
Round of 16: 12 & 19 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 9 & 16 April 2026
Semi-finals: 30 April & 7 May 2026
Final: 27 May 2026 (Leipzig)
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Here’s the social media reaction with the 25/26 Champions, Europa and Conference League Route to the final draws revealed…
Newcastle:
@bennufc_18: Wouldn’t have it any other way that’s what this competitions about
@thomashammond__: On this day 5 years ago we were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves leaving us 17th in the Premier League. How about that for progression?
@kylethomaswest: No easy games now, but we’ve definitely landed on the better side of the draw.
@cjhhhh21: Belter draw, this is what the CL is all about, fuck playing another prem team, let’s make more memories playing the European giants, howay the fucking lads
Liverpool:
@urbankop: There goes the Madrid dream.
@james_mcghan: So, IF we get past Galatasaray then we have a quarter-final vs PSG and then a semi-final vs Man City/Real Madrid/Bayern Munich if we get that far 😅😅 This could be a crazy end to the season! My heart already can’t take it 😂 #LFC #UCL
@cadburysmeaow: Overall the better draw to get Galatasaray rather than Atletico! #LFC may lose in Istanbul still but at home they should have enough to get to quarter finals minimum! No excuse not to progress Arne! #UCLdraw
@JustinC94019825: Back to Instabul this time We’ll Beat Galatasaray Get our Revenge
Tottenham:
@CamzSavage: Lookman about to show us why we should’ve signed him
@cadburysmeaow: Galatasaray the easier draw but at cost of being on the deadlier side of the draw! If Arne really wants to show he is still the man for #LFC he must prove he can do it on the tougher side! However on the easier side Arsenal have no excuse not to reach semis at minimum! #UCLdraw
@KevJStewart: It almost feels pointless having an opinion on this at the moment, because — rather absurdly — we need to focus more on *not getting relegated* 🥴 However, I do see this as strangely winnable, if we’re up for it. We probably won’t be, of course… #ChampionsLeague #UCL #THFC #COYS
@Bearridge_: Tottenham Hotspur are probably on the easier side of the UEFA Champions League draw, but it will be a tough ask to get past Atlético Madrid! #THFC #COYS
@johnrhueston: Strange situation with the threat of relegation hanging over #Spurs it’s hard to get excited about the Champions League. Form in Europe has been better and there’s a chance we could win this tie over two legs but first priority is points against Fulham and Palace. #THFC #COYS
Nottingham Forest:
@nffc1865__: im glad we dont have betis, extremely winnable considering their biggest strength is corners and there star striker in franculino is injured
@henjohansen1: Of course… And knowing how piss poor we are on setpieces we all know what will happen… 😨
@jtweets1865: Happy with that. If we can’t beat them over two legs then I’d be very disappointed. Tough route to the final after that.
@GaryMarriott73: And we all know it will be a low allocation and fans will book flights and accommodation as they think they will deserve to be in the top tier….remember it’s not the clubs fault. Be kind, short turnaround.
Aston Villa:
@bedwards2779: Do we ever get lucky?
@TheVillaPolls: FFS
@AVFCVillano: Lille, then Roma? Been a pleasure lads
@tomsalt2802: Underwhelming I’ve gotta be honest, only because we’ve played them before in the Conference League
@Riv158: I can’t be bothered we potentially have Lille, Roma, Forest/Porto and Lyon if all the favourites go through
Crystal Palace:
@maxpalace03: Would’ve preferred Mainz but this is alright. At least we’ll be more prepared with the way they’ll set up. Need some revenge.
@ljbrameld: Revenge will be sweet ❤️💙😊
@DeePalace_: Need our get back for the league phase!!
@cpfc_samh: Confident we do it over two legs, knock out football suits us but wouldn’t be shocked if we have a poor first game
No pressure 😉 pic.twitter.com/udvbxUhyqt
— Central (@WestHam_Central) February 27, 2026
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