Ahead of today’s Champions League round of 16 second-leg fixtures in the 2025/26 season, Softfootball highlights the match schedule and assesses each team’s chances of reaching the quarterfinals.
Here are the fixtures
17:45 Sporting CP – Bodoe/Glimt
20:00 Arsenal – Bayer Leverkusen
20:00 Chelsea – Paris Saint-Germain
20:00 Manchester City – Real Madrid
Now let’s discuss these matches in clearer perspective.
Sporting CP – Bodoe/Glimt
Bodø/Glimt have emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the 2025/26 Champions League following a series of major victories. They defeated Manchester City 3–1 at home during the league phase and followed that with a 2–1 away win over Atlético Madrid on Matchday 8.
They also overcame Inter Milan, winning 3–1 at home in the playoff first leg and securing a 2–1 victory at San Siro to advance. With a 3:0 win over Sporting in the first leg, they are strongly positioned to qualify for the next stage.
Arsenal – Bayer Leverkusen
Arsenal played out a 1:1 draw in the first leg, but the advantage appears to be with the Premier League side. Arsenal have shown strong resilience throughout the season, and Mikel Arteta is unlikely to take risks at this stage. They are estimated to have around a 70% chance of reaching the quarterfinals.
Chelsea – Paris Saint-Germain
DAZN
Chelsea face a significant challenge after their first-leg 5:2 defeat, as their chances of progressing are estimated at around 10%. While their fans remain optimistic, their defensive record, conceding in eight consecutive matches, raises concerns about their ability to contain PSG’s attack.
Manchester City – Real Madrid
This is expected to be a difficult encounter for Manchester City. After losing 3:0 in the first leg, they must produce a strong performance to overturn the deficit. Based on recent form, including their 1:1 draw against West Ham, a comeback will require high intensity and early goals. City are estimated to have about a 30% chance of progressing.
