The stage was set, and the large screen at the last-16 draw ceremony left little doubt about the formidable challenge ahead. On the left side of the bracket, eight teams stood out with six of them having previously lifted the Champions League trophy. Together, these six clubs account for a total of 31 European titles. In stark contrast, the right side featured eight teams with only a single former champion, accounting for five titles.
Left-Bracket: The ‘Death Half’
The left half of the draw includes Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Chelsea, Galatasaray, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Atalanta, and Bayern Munich. Among them, six teams have a proven European pedigree:
| Team | Champions League Titles | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PSG | 1 | First-time champions |
| Chelsea | 2 | Victories in 2012 and 2021 |
| Liverpool | 6 | Historic success over multiple decades |
| Manchester City | 1 | Recently secured their first trophy |
| Real Madrid | 15 | Most successful club in European history |
| Bayern Munich | 6 | Consistent presence in later stages |
| Galatasaray | 0 | Yet to claim European glory |
| Atalanta | 0 | First-time last-16 appearance |
Remarkably, all clubs that have won the trophy in the last decade are located in this half, giving rise to the term ‘Death Half’, a section notoriously difficult for any contender.
Right-Bracket: A Relatively Easier Path
On the right, Newcastle United, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, Bodø/Glimt, Sporting Lisbon, Bayer Leverkusen, and Arsenal compete. Among them, only Barcelona has previously won the Champions League, lifting the trophy five times. Consequently, this side presents a less daunting path to the final, although in Europe’s premier club competition, nothing is guaranteed until the final whistle.
Analysis and Managerial Perspective
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola downplayed the notion that the left bracket is unfair. Speaking after the draw in Nyon, Switzerland, he said, “It would be disrespectful to call any section easier. Look at Newcastle, Barcelona, Atlético, or Tottenham in the other half. The Champions League is difficult, whichever way you look at it.”
Guardiola acknowledged that facing Real Madrid in the last-16 is a significant challenge but emphasised that every opponent brings its own strengths: “To progress, you must beat the best. Otherwise, you don’t deserve to advance.”
This will be the fifth Champions League knockout meeting between City and Real Madrid, and the 13th encounter overall since Guardiola took charge in 2016. Under the previous group stage system, these teams might have avoided each other until the quarter-finals. The new format, however, removes that buffer, resulting in frequent matchups that even Guardiola finds unusual: “Yes, it feels strange. Few draws make the last group match the first knockout fixture.”
Despite the difficulty, Guardiola remains pragmatic: “We’ll adapt to the situation. The draw is the draw—we must deal with it. Every team in this competition is strong, and this is what makes the Champions League so exciting.”
The left half of the bracket, packed with multiple champions and European heavyweights, sets the stage for potentially spectacular clashes, ensuring that fans can expect no shortage of drama before the final.