Chelsea's matchup with PSG is a rematch of last year's Fifa Club World Cup final, where the Blues defeated the European champions 3-0 in New Jersey. Chelsea's director of football, David Barnard, said, "It'll be tough but it holds no fear for us. It's too soon to speak about the final; we should think game by game. Now we have a strong opener to face."
Man City, Newcastle, and Liverpool all faced their current opponents during the group stage. City's win in Madrid in December marked their ninth encounter with Real since April 2022. City's director of football, Hugo Viana, called it a "big game for both teams," adding, "It's like a final, we are happy to go there again." Liverpool ambassador Ian Rush highlighted the home advantage for the second leg at Anfield, saying, "The atmosphere there is second to none, and hopefully that will come into it."
The Champions League bracket shows that if Newcastle and Tottenham progress, they would meet in the quarter-finals, as would Chelsea and Liverpool on the other side. The final is set for May 30 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary. Arsenal, top of the group stage with eight wins, could face either Sporting or Bodo/Glimt in the quarter-finals. Betting analytics favor Arsenal with a 27.40% chance of winning the tournament, followed by Bayern Munich at 14.28%, Liverpool at 12.83%, and Man City at 10.79%. Chelsea is rated higher than PSG, their last-16 opponent.
Chelsea's Barnard emphasized the importance of focus, saying, "You can look at the bracket, but you can't take things for granted." Tottenham, winners of last season's Europa League, could face Arsenal in the semi-finals and are considered outsiders at 1.22%. Former Tottenham defender Gary Mabbutt noted that "anything can happen, and every game is winnable," citing last year's Europa League triumph as proof.
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior praised PSG, calling them "fantastic," while PSG coach Luis Enrique said the tie is not about revenge. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick stressed respect for Newcastle, and Bayer Leverkusen's sporting director Simon Rolfes described Arsenal as "perhaps the top favourite" for both the Champions League and Premier League titles.
The Europa and Conference League draws were also confirmed, with Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa hosting first legs on March 12, while Crystal Palace faces AEK Larnaca in the Conference League.
