It is now official for the 2025/26 Champions League quarterfinals following the conclusion of the Round of 16, where teams such as Chelsea, Newcastle, Bodø/Glimt, Manchester City, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham, and Galatasaray were all eliminated from the competition.
Here are the fixtures:
PSG vs Liverpool
Softfootball believes many fans, pundits, and analysts may write Liverpool off, but their comeback from a 1:0 first-leg loss against Galatasaray, also winning 4:0 in the second leg at Anfield, shows their strength. This will not be an easy game for PSG, and it will not be like their encounter against Chelsea in the Round of 16.
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich
This is another high-profile clash. Bayern Munich were dominant against Atalanta, scoring freely with a 6:1 first-leg win and a 4:1 second-leg victory. Real Madrid, despite having a strong attack with Kylian Mbappé returning from injury, have shown defensive weaknesses. Bayern’s attacking strength could pose a serious threat.
Sporting CP vs Arsenal
On paper, this appears to be the easiest fixture, with Arsenal expected to defeat Sporting CP. However, Arsenal must be cautious, considering Sporting CP’s remarkable comeback against Bodø/Glimt, where they overturned a 3:0 first-leg deficit to win 5:0 in the second leg.
Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid
This fixture has already been seen in the Copa del Rey, where Barcelona lost 4:0 in the first leg but responded with a 3:0 win in the second leg, falling short on aggregate.
Now facing Atlético Madrid again, questions arise about potential final opponents if Barcelona progress. Our Analysts believe Barcelona may prefer facing Real Madrid or Liverpool rather than Bayern Munich or PSG. Given Barcelona’s defensive vulnerabilities, Bayern and PSG could cause significant problems. Barcelona may prefer opponents they can outscore, even if they concede chances.
Against Real Madrid, Barcelona have shown in recent meetings that they can manage and defeat them, particularly under Hansi Flick, where Madrid have not posed a consistent threat.
