To be honest, Chelsea are on fire from frying pan into the fire. Softfootball has done a deep analysis of the 2025/26 Champions League Round of 16 fixtures:
- Galatasaray vs Liverpool
- Atalanta vs Bayern Munich
- Atlético de Madrid vs Tottenham
- Newcastle vs Barcelona
- Leverkusen vs Arsenal
- Bodø/Glimt vs Sporting CP
- Paris vs Chelsea
- Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Looking at the draw and the route to the final, Chelsea face a monumental challenge. They are most likely to confront multiple heavyweights if they hope to advance deep into the tournament.
Softfootball had predicted that PSG, after qualifying through the playoffs, would face Chelsea or Barcelona, which came true. However, we did not anticipate Chelsea would have to navigate such a daunting path filled with Europe’s giants.
Should Chelsea defeat PSG in the Round of 16, they could meet Liverpool in the quarter-finals. A victory there could lead to a semi-final clash with Real Madrid, Manchester City, or Bayern Munich. Considering Chelsea’s current form, this is a very tough route.
All the European football giants Man City, Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern are in that side of the draw. How Chelsea will survive is the question. Yet, as Softfootball believes, in this unpredictable sport, any team that can pass through this rigorous side and reach the final would truly deserve the title, whether it is Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Real Madrid, or Bayern.
