EPL Clubs Headline Champions League Round Of 16 With Six Clubs

London—The lineup for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League round of 16 is complete, and English football has never looked more dominant. Following this week’s two-leg playoff ties, a record six Premier League sides advanced to the knockout phase, with current bookmakers’ favorites Arsenal leading the charge.

Friday’s draw in Nyon will decide the pairings for the next stage, but the composition of the final 16 already tells a striking story. England supplies more than a third of the remaining clubs, underscoring the league’s financial muscle and squad depth. Joining Arsenal are Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur, creating the possibility of all-Premier League showdowns as early as the round of 16.

Spain follows with three representatives—holders Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid—while Germany provides Bayer Leverkusen and perennial contenders Bayern Munich. Italy, France, Portugal, Turkey, and Norway each have one club still in contention: Atalanta, Paris Saint-Germain, Sporting CP, Galatasaray, and Bodø/Glimt respectively.

The draw, to be held Friday, will set the bracket for ties scheduled in February and March, with the victors advancing to April’s quarter-finals.