The group stage of the 2025 Champions League has left some big clubs out of the competition, including Manchester City and AC Milan, creating a lot of anticipation for the round of 16 matchups. The 16 qualified teams already know the pairings that will take them to the fight for glory at the Allianz Arena on May 31. With spectacular matchups ahead, this article explores the most exciting games and routes to the final of the tournament.

Madrid Derby and PSG vs. the big favorite

One of the most anticipated matchups is PSG vs. Liverpool, with the second leg scheduled at Anfield. This clash promises to be thrilling, with two of the most powerful teams in Europe battling for a spot in the quarterfinals. The winner of this tie will face the victor of the Brujas vs. Aston Villa matchup, which suggests that the team advancing from this part of the bracket will have a relatively easier path.

Another exciting encounter is the one between Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid, as predicted by Kylian Mbappé. The second leg will be played at the Metropolitano, ensuring an electrifying atmosphere. The winner of this matchup will face the winner of the PSV Eindhoven vs. Arsenal match, another high-voltage clash in these round of 16 games.

Easy path for Barcelona and Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen

On the other side of the bracket, Barcelona will face Benfica, a team they already defeated in the group stage. The second leg will be played at Montjuic, which gives a slight advantage to the Catalan side. If Barcelona wins this tie, they will face the winner of the Borussia Dortmund vs. Lille match, with the second leg in France. With these pairings, Barcelona seems to be one of the teams most favored by the draw.

Finally, Bayern Munich will face Bayer Leverkusen in one of the big matchups of these round of 16 games. The winner of this match will play in the quarterfinals against the winner of the tie between Feyenoord and Inter Milan.

All the round of 16 matchups for the 2025 Champions League

• PSG - Liverpool
• Brujas - Aston Villa
• Real Madrid - Atlético de Madrid
• PSV - Arsenal
• Benfica - FC Barcelona
• Borussia Dortmund - Lille
• Bayern Munich - Bayer Leverkusen
• Feyenoord - Inter Milan

Match Dates and Times for the 2025 Champions League

The round of 16 of the 2025 Champions League begins between March 4 and 5, with the first-leg matches. The return leg will be played the following week, between March 11 and 12, ensuring that teams will have little time to prepare for what promises to be a round full of surprises and top-level football.