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

Barcelona’s quest for a sixth Champions League title is about to enter its climax.

Barcelona had an up-and-down league phase. | Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Barcelona’s early season blunders could have been costly in the 2025–26 Champions League league phase, avoiding an unwanted knockout playoff by beating Copenhagen on the final matchday.

A loss to Monaco was Barcelona’s only league phase stumble a season ago, finishing second in the standings. But defeats against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and a woeful draw vs. Club Brugge this term saw Hansi Flick’s men sitting just outside the top eight with seven games played.

Crucially, the 4–1 win against the Danes at Camp Nou was enough to climb to fifth in the standings and qualify automatically for the round of 16.

For the second year in a row, Barcelona avoided the unwanted knockout playoffs and secured direct passage to the last 16. With no margin for error, Barcelona defeated Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague and Copenhagen in their final three games to sneak into the top eight in the final week.

Having earned a bye to the round of 16, the question turns to who the Catalans will face.

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Barcelona’s Potential Champions League Round of 16 Opponents

PSG and Newcastle are the options. | Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images/Getty Images

The knockout playoffs narrowed it down to two potential teams.

A mouthwatering clash against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City was briefly a possibility until the English club also moved into the top eight, but Paris Saint-Germain would be no less seismic as the reigning European champions and long-time rivals. The French giants survived a scare against Monaco in the playoff round, coming from behind in leg one and then drawing leg two to prevail 5–4.

On the other side of the pairing, Newcastle United knocked out Qarabağ of Azerbaijan. That was the favorable outcome for the Magpies, who had the tie won after 90 minutes, winning 6–1 out in Baku in leg one, then 3–2 at home to make it 9–3 on aggregate.

Barcelona will be matched against one of the victors of those ties, with the other to be handed a date with Chelsea when the round of 16 draw is made.

• Newcastle United or Paris Saint-Germain

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When Is the Champions League Round of 16?

The Catalans will be extremely pleased to have avoided playing an extra two games to reach the round of 16, especially given the congested portion of the calendar they are about to enter, with La Liga and Copa del Rey action ramping up.

Barcelona can continue to focus on other competitions since the Champions League round of 16 won’t start until next month. Flick’s men will start their round of 16 tie with an away first leg on March 10–11, with the return leg at the Camp Nou taking place a week later on March 17–18.

The round of 16 draw will take place on Feb. 27.

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