UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Preview: 2024-2025

After a very exciting league phase and knockout round, we have now reached the Round of 16 in the 2025 UEFA Champions League. There are only 16 squads remaining and we have reached bracket play. Now keep in mind, these matchups are two leg contests, taking place on both team’s home turf. There is no benefit for away goals anymore, teams just need to win on aggregate to advance.

Let’s take a peek at the bracket and the matchups.

UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Bracket

Let’s break this down by league.

• English Premier League: Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa
• Spanish La Liga: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona
• German Bundesliga: Bayern Munich, Bayern Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund
• French Ligue 1: PSG, Lille
• Dutch Eredivisie: PSV, Feyenoord Rotterdam
• Italian Serie A: Inter Milan
• Portuguese Primeira Liga: Benfica
• Belgian Pro League: Club Brugge

Now before we get into the matchups, we should look at the updated odds to hoist the UCL trophy this season.

UEFA Champions League Title Betting Odds

As always, let’s take a look at the overall betting odds to win the entire competition.

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, sign up today with Promo Code BNEWS for a 50% deposit bonus as well as $10 cash in your account instantly!

Odds to Win the UCL

• Real Madrid +325
• Barcelona +400
• Liverpool +500
• Arsenal +600
• Bayern Munich +700
• PSG +1200
• Inter Milan +1200
• Atletico Madrid +2400
• Bayer Leverkusen +2500
• Aston Villa +3500
• Borussia Dortmund +6000
• Benfica +8000
• Lille 125-1
• PSV 200-1
• Club Brugge 200-1
• Feyenoord Rotterdam 250-1

The defending UCL Champions are the current favorite to win the title again, despite being on the “tougher side of the bracket”. All three EPL teams, along with both Madrid squads and PSG are all on the same side of the bracket. Club Brugge and PSV round out the other two on that side, but it’s clear they don’t stand a chance being two of the three biggest underdogs left.

UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Matchup Preview

Inter-League Action

The Round of 16 draw revealed two inter-league matchups for the first round of bracket play. Both the La Liga and Bundesliga will lose at least one team as Real Madrid face Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich take on Bayer Leverkusen. We as viewers are blessed with the Madrid Derby and a classic German rivalry match to start off the Round of 16.

Leverkusen and Munich played on February 15th, resulting in a nil-nil draw. In early December in the German Cup, Leverkusen pulled off a 1-0 win, and their first matchup of the season in September was a 1-1 draw. Bayern Munich will be looking for their first win against Leverkusen since September 30th, 2022.

The Madrid squads have played to two 1-1 draws this season in La Liga, and have finished 1-1 the past three times the teams have seen each other. However prior to that, Atletico took down Real 4-2 int he Copa del Rey ten days after losing to them 5-3 in the Spanish Supercopa.

Both should be very exciting contests.

Potential EPL Quarterfinal

Paris Saint-Germain will have their hands full, taking on Liverpool who finished at the Top of the UCL Table with 7 wins and 1 loss in a meaningless match. If the EPL leaders can get by their French counter parts, a quarterfinal matchup with Aston Villa is waiting. Now Villa will need to get past Club Brugge, who took down Atalanta in the knockout round, and could be set up for a sneaky run to the quarterfinals.

The Gunners of Arsenal face PSV Eindhoven who currently sit in 2nd on the Dutch Eredivisie table. Based on the betting odds alone, I see Arsenal moving on with ease in this matchup.

Who Else Is Left?

The lone Italian team, Inter Milan, face Feyenoord Rotterdam after they took down the other team from Milan in the knockout round. Rotterdam barely snuck out of league phase but have certainly made the most of their time in the UCL.

Benfica and Barcelona pair up after playing to a 9 goal thriller during the league phase. One can only hope their two legs produce as much excitement as they did the first time, but you know me, I’ll be trying to target an under like a true sicko.

Lastly, Borussia Dortmund, last year’s Runner Ups, take on Lille after beating Sporting CP in the knockout round. Dortmund has had a “character building” season in the Bundesliga, and will be looking for something positive in the UCL bracket. Unfortunately for them, a quarterfinal matchup against Barcelona is likely their reward for beating the French squad. Lille is well rested having advanced straight to the Round of 16 after finishing 7th in league phase. Currently 4th in the Ligue 1 standings, they’ll also be playing for pride like Dortmund.

My UCL Round of 16 Predictions

• Arsenal over PSV
• Real Madrid over Atletico Madrid
• Liverpool over PSG
• Aston Villa over Club Brugge
• Barcelona over Benfica
• Lille over Borussia Dortmund
• Bayer Leverkusen over Bayern Munich
• Inter Milan over Feyenoord Rotterdam

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