The Champions League last 16 matches have been ‘interesting’ so far.
Tuesday seeing four first leg matches played.
Then Wednesday seeing another four played out.
Halfway through now, eight matches gone and eight to come.
The second leg Champions League last 16 games to be played next Tuesday (17 March) and Wednesday (18 March).
This is how things have gone so far…
Tuesday 10 March
Galatasaray 1 Liverpool 0
Newcastle United 1 Barcelona 1
Atletico Madrid 5 Tottenham 2
Atalanta 1 Bayern Munich 6
Wednesday 11 March
Bayer Leverkusen 1 Arsenal 1
Real Madrid 3 Manchester City 0
Bodo/Glimt 3 Sporting Lisbon 0
PSG 5 Chelsea 2
You have to laugh.
Ahead of these Champions League last 16 matches, everybody was talking about the overwhelming dominance of Premier League clubs. Six clubs in the last 16 of the Champions League from one country, the first time it has ever happened.
After the first legs, the talk has now turned to how many, if any, of these six Premier League clubs will make it through to the quarter-finals?
The carnage for Premier League clubs has been spectacular, both Chelsea and Tottenham conceding five goals each in the first legs, along with Man City this trio all have what look near impossible tasks to qualify.
The media are so subservient to Liverpool, they seemed to think it was a given that they would win in Turkey. Yet instead, Liverpool lucky to only lose 1-0 to Galatasaray.
As for Arsenal, trailing to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday night, they were gifted arguably the worst penalty ever given, very late in their match. A shocking decision that gave them an undeserved draw in their first leg.
Speaking of very late penalties…St James’ Park on Tuesday night. A superb Newcastle United performance that absolutely deserved the win that Harvey Barnes’ goal looked to have given them, only for that added time Yamal spot-kick.
It was gutting BUT what a turn up, of the six Premier League clubs, Newcastle United putting in easily the best performance of the half dozen English clubs AND getting the most impressive result.
This was NOT what the media were expecting, or wanted!!
Now thoughts turn to next week.
Champions League last 16 second leg matches
Tuesday 17 March
Sporting Lisbon v Bodo/Glimt (5.45pm)
Manchester City v Real Madrid (8pm)
Chelsea v PSG (8pm)
Arsenal v Bayer Leverkusen (8pm)
Wednesday 18 March
Barcelona v Newcastle United (5.45pm)
Liverpool v Galatasaray (8pm)
Tottenham v Atletico Madrid (8pm)
Bayern Munich v Atalanta (8pm)
The complete Newcastle United upcoming fixtures before the March internationals:
Chelsea v Newcastle (Saturday 14 March) 5.30pm
Barcelona v Newcastle (Wednesday 18 March) 5.45pm
Newcastle v Sunderland (Sunday 22 March) 12pm
If Newcastle United get past Barcelona?
Newcastle United would then play the winners of Tottenham v Atletico Madrid
Who Eddie Howe’s side could face in a potential semi-final
Bodo/Glimt, Sporting Lisbon, Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal.
Who Eddie Howe’s side could face in a potential semi-final
PSG, Chelsea, Galatasaray, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Man City, Atalanta, Bayern Munich.
Round of 16 second leg: 17/18 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 7/8 and 14/15 April 2026
Semi-finals: 28/29 April and 5/6 May 2026
Final: 30 May 2026 (To be held in Budapest)