Who Liverpool Could Face in the 2025–26 Champions League Round of 16

The Reds are hoping to claim a seventh Champions League crown.

Liverpool produced an exquisite attacking performance in their final league phase game. | Paul ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

During a domestic campaign of gloom and doom for Liverpool, the Champions League has been a source of respite for the most part.

Sure, there was defeat to Galatasaray in Istanbul and humiliation at the hands of PSV Eindhoven, but Liverpool have generally saved their strongest performances for Europe. Victories over the likes of Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Inter and Marseille have made a mockery of their dire domestic form.

The Reds have booked their ticket to the competition’s last 16, avoiding the knockout playoff round courtesy of their top-eight finish during the league phase. Despite the joy of automatic progression, there remain some tough potential opponents for Liverpool when they next take to the European stage.

Here are Liverpool’s possible opponents for the Champions League round of 16.

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Liverpool's Potential Champions League Round of 16 Opponents

Julián Alvarez (centre) led Atlético Madrid to victory in September. | Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto/Getty

Liverpool’s opponents for the last 16 were immediately narrowed by the league phase, with the Reds due to face one of the clubs who finished 13th, 14th, 19th or 20th in the standings—although only two of those sides have actually progressed beyond the intervening knockout playoff round.

Liverpool opened their European campaign against Atlético Madrid back in September, relying on a last-gasp Virgil van Dijk winner to sneak a 3–2 win, and the two sides could lock horns once more in the last 16 now that Diego Simeone’s side have knocked out Club Brugge.

The Spanish side won 7–4 over the two legs of their knockout playoff, with Alexander Sørloth’s second-leg hat-trick ultimately the difference in the tie—long since removed from his days as a goal-shy Crystal Palace flop.

Galatasaray beat Liverpool in the second round of league phase matches as Victor Osimhen’s penalty decided a hard-fought contest. The Reds might have the opportunity for revenge in the last 16, with the Turkish giants prevailing in a breathless clash with Juventus that spanned 210 minutes.

Gala handsomely won 5–2 in the first leg, yet looked to have thrown that away when Juve scored three times without reply in the second to force extra time. In the additional 30 minutes, they recomposed and scored two of their own, through Victor Osimhen and Barış Yılmaz to send the Old Lady packing. The aggregate score in the end was 7–5 as 12 goals were shared in total.

• Atlético Madrid or Galatasaray

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When Is the Champions League Round of 16?

Roughly six weeks will have passed between Liverpool’s final league phase fixture and the first leg of their last 16 tie, which will be staged away from Merseyside on Mar. 10/11. The second leg, which will be held at Anfield, takes place the following week on Mar. 17/18.

The draw for the round of 16 occurs on Feb. 27.

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