The group stage of the UEFA Champions League has concluded, and the knockout rounds have begun, bringing high-stakes clashes between Europe’s elite clubs. Ahead of the first-leg matches, a closer look at the teams’ head-to-head records, historical performance, and current season form reveals intriguing trends and statistics.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
Bayer Leverkusen have enjoyed the upper hand against English opposition in recent European encounters, winning four of their last five two-legged ties. Conversely, Arsenal have struggled against German teams, losing their last five two-legged ties—all against Bayern Munich.
Leverkusen have also faced difficulty in the Round of 16 historically, losing six consecutive ties at this stage. However, Arsenal enter this tie with remarkable momentum: the Gunners have won all eight of their Champions League fixtures this season, scoring first in every match. In the last six matches, they have netted three or more goals each time. This winning streak is the longest by an English club this season, second only to Manchester City’s ten consecutive wins between May 2023 and March 2024.
| Team | Last 5 Two-Legged Ties vs Opponent | Current Season CL Wins | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bayer Leverkusen | 4 wins, 1 loss | 6 | Round of 16 struggles |
| Arsenal | 0 wins, 5 losses | 8 | Scored first in all matches |
Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
PSG have had the edge in recent European contests against Chelsea, winning three of their eight encounters, while Chelsea have claimed two victories and three matches ended in draws. Against English sides, PSG have been formidable, losing just once in their last eight matches and eliminating Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal in the previous season.
PSG are appearing in the Round of 16 for the 14th consecutive season and have never drawn a knockout match 0-0 in their last 58 games. Chelsea have been dominant against French opposition, winning their last six matches and 13 of their last 16 knockout ties.
Bodø/Glimt vs Sporting Lisbon
This is the first-ever knockout tie between Norwegian and Portuguese clubs in European competition. Bodø/Glimt became the first Norwegian side to win four consecutive Champions League matches, maintaining a 100% record against Portuguese opposition in the Europa League by defeating Porto and Braga.
Sporting Lisbon, on the other hand, have historically struggled at this stage in the Champions League and have never progressed beyond the Round of 16. Their sole European quarter-final appearance was in the 1982–83 European Cup.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City
This tie sees a familiar rivalry, with the clubs meeting in the knockout stages for the fifth consecutive season. Across 15 encounters, both sides have five wins each and five draws, demonstrating remarkable parity.
Real Madrid have overcome the Round of 16 in 13 of their last 15 meetings, though they have not beaten English sides in their last four matches. Manchester City, meanwhile, have lost only three of their last 18 matches against Spanish opposition, with 10 wins and 5 draws. Notably, Vinícius Júnior has scored 12 of his last 13 Champions League goals in the second half.