Manchester City will play Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 as Pep Guardiola targets another European title.
Guardiola’s side remain in the hunt for four trophies this season having narrowed the gap to Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, and may fancy their chances of a deep run in Europe.
Despite a couple of set-backs, City successfully navigated into the top eight in the league phase and avoided the knockout play-offs.
And City will now play Real Madrid for the fifth season in a row in the Champions League. The 15-time champions knocked City out in the play-off rounds last season, while City’s last victory against them came as they won the Champions League in their 2022-23 campaign.
The two legs of the tie will take place on Wednesday 11 March, in the Spanish capital, and at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 17 March.
Man City’s Champions League draw
Should they progress past Real Madrid, City will face either Atalanta or Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. As City are the eighth seeds, they are only guaranteed to be at home in the second leg of their last-16 tie, and would not be if they are the lower seed in the quarter-finals.
What about the semi-finals?
If City reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2023, the last time they won the competition, they know they would play one of four teams:
They are PSG, Chelsea, Galatasaray and Liverpool.
Full Champions League bracket

Top half
Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
Galatasaray vs Liverpool
Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Atalanta vs Bayern Munich
Bottom half
Newcastle vs Barcelona
Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham
Bodo Glimt vs Sporting CP
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
What are the match dates?
The last-16 ties will take place in mid-March. Here are the remaining round dates:
Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026
Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026
Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)
Newcastle’s Champions League draw and path to final revealed
Tottenham’s Champions League draw and path to final revealed
Arsenal’s Champions League draw and path to final revealed
Arsenal’s Champions League draw and path to final revealed
Liverpool’s Champions League draw and path to final revealed
Newcastle’s Champions League draw and path to final revealed