Manchester City to face one of Benfica, Bodo/Glimt, Inter or Real Madrid in Champions League Round of 16
Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Galatasaray secures their direct qualification to the Round of 16 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, with goals from Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki ensuring top-eight placement in the league phase.
City’s performance in the league phase
The Blues finished eighth in the 36-team league phase, accumulating 16 points from eight matches. Victories over Napoli, Villarreal, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, and Galatasaray, alongside a draw at Monaco, were enough to see City advance straight to the knockout stage without having to participate in the play-off round.
Only the top eight sides move directly into the Round of 16, while teams placed ninth to 24th enter a play-off to fight for the remaining knockout spots.
Round of 16 draw details
Following the structure of the upcoming play-off round, Manchester City will face one of Benfica, Bodo/Glimt, Inter, or Real Madrid in the Round of 16.
The draw to determine City’s opponent will take place on Friday, 27 February 2026, after the completion of the play-off round. The same draw will also outline the potential route to the final in Budapest on 30 May 2026.
Fixture schedule
The Round of 16 will be played over two legs on 10/11 and 17/18 March 2026. As a top-eight finisher, City will host the second leg at the Etihad Stadium.
City’s European ambitions
Having won the UEFA Champions League in the 2022/23 season, Manchester City will be seeking a second European crown. The team’s impressive form in the league phase has set them up for a strong run in the knockout stages, despite missing some key players throughout the campaign.
Teams in the Round of 16
- Arsenal
- Bayern Munich
- Liverpool
- Spurs
- Barcelona
- Chelsea
- Sporting CP
- Manchester City
Teams in the play-off round
- Real Madrid
- Inter
- PSG
- Newcastle
- Juventus
- Atletico Madrid
- Atalanta
- Leverkusen
- Borussia Dortmund
- Olympiacos
- Club Brugge
- Galatasaray
- Monaco
- Qarabag
- Bodo/Glimt
- Benfica
FAQ
- Who will Manchester City face in the Round of 16?
City will face one of Benfica, Bodo/Glimt, Inter, or Real Madrid. The exact opponent will be confirmed on 27 February 2026.
- When will the Round of 16 matches be played?
The two-legged ties are scheduled for 10/11 and 17/18 March 2026.
- Why did City avoid the play-off round?
By finishing in the top eight of the league phase, City automatically qualified for the Round of 16.
- Where will City play the second leg?
The Blues will host the second leg at the Etihad Stadium.
- How did City perform in the league phase?
City collected 16 points from eight games, including wins over Napoli, Villarreal, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, and Galatasaray, and a draw at Monaco.
