After this week saw the conclusion of the knockout rounds of the 2025/26 Champions League, the draw for the bracket took place on Friday morning, with supporters eager to find out who their clubs would/could eventually face. After finishing top of the league phase table, Arsenal drew Bayer Leverkusen from the Bundesliga and found themselves with an incredibly favorable draw overall.
The big question was not just who they would face, but which side of the bracket they would be drawn on. With plenty
of top clubs still alive, there was a very real chance that the Gunners’ potential path to the final could have seen them face the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid, Paris St. Germaine, Chelsea, or Liverpool.
Thankfully, the Gunners got just about the best case scenario possible and will fancy their chances of making a run to the final. Should they handle Leverkusen, their potential quarterfinal opponent will be one of Sporting CP or Bodø/Glimt, which is, on paper, way more appealing (and interesting) than another RM quarterfinal or two more matches against Manchester City. With all 6 PL clubs qualifying for at least the knockouts, there was a zero percent chance that they would avoid a few league rivals on their side of the board, but Arsenal dodged a few major bullets by avoiding City, Liverpool, and Chelsea until the final.
Newcastle United and Tottenham being drawn on their side of the bracket will certainly feel more comfortable, comparatively. Looking down the line, the semifinal could potentially see them face either side, but the odds favor Barcelona, who made it through to last season’s semis as well. There’s also a chance for a rematch with league phase opponents Atletico Madrid, who look improved since their 4-0 loss to the Gunners. Personally, I’d rather face a side from outside the PL than from within it.
Arsenal fans will be absolutely elated with the draw. Most of the more challenging sides ended up on the other side of the bracket, though there are no “easy” matches at this stage. A few familiar foes potentially await, but there’s no denying that the Gunners got the rub of the green. The round of 16 kicks off on Tuesday, March 10th.
What are your thoughts? Which matches are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!
