UEFA Champions League 2025/26 RO16 First Leg: Preview and Predictions

As we move into the business end of tournaments, the Champions League first leg of the RO16 will be played this midweek. One side of the draw leading to this year’s final in Budapest has Liverpool, PSG, Chelsea, Man City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich all stacked up against each other while the other only has Arsenal and Barcelona in a relatively easier draw. 

Some massive encounters await us in this Round of 16 tie with PSG facing Chelsea, Real Madrid clashing with Manchester City and Atalanta up against Bayern Munich.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at all the preview and predictions from the Round of 16 first leg games – 

Galatasaray vs Liverpool

Turkish side Galatasaray will meet Liverpool yet again in the Round of 16 after they played each other in the group stage where Gala won the home game, courtesy of a Victor Osimhen penalty. The match was very disruptive and after scoring the opener, the Galatasaray players defended well and didn’t let Liverpool get any sort of momentum or clear-cut chances. 

Having played poorly in the league and losing in the UCL to Galatasaray and PSV, the Reds turned around their form in the Champions League and ended up in the Top eight while Galatasaray had to come through the play-offs where they defeated Juventus to secure qualification for the Round of 16. 

Looking at the two teams’ recent form, Liverpool hasn’t been overly convincing and have at times found it difficult to get going, putting themselves under pressure, mostly ending the game in chaotic fashion. Their defensive issues and loss of focus in the dying phases of the game has led to conceding poor goals and dropping points. That is something Liverpool will have to be wary of going into this tough away fixture. Having said that, Liverpool has lost only one game in their last five encounters in all competitions and has been able to find a way to win even when they have struggled. 

As for Galatasaray, they also returned to winning ways after two consecutive defeats and are now on a three-game winning streak. Even in their playoff tie against Juventus, they weren’t the favourites, yet they blew Juve away in the first leg and almost killed the tie before Juve came back at home and pushed the game into extra-time but the Turkish outfit managed to make it to the last 16. 

From an injury perspective, Galatasaray will miss Enes Büyük with injury while Metehan Baltaci is out suspended. Liverpool will miss some key players in Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo with Geovanni Leoni and Stefan Bajcetic also out for the long-term. 

Coming to this match-up, since Galatasaray is going to play the second leg away at Anfield, they would want to win the game by at least a two-goal deficit and defend their lead in the second tie. However, it’s easier said than done as Liverpool has a superior team with a quality forward and midfield. With Florian Wirtz returning to the team after a back injury, Liverpool would be strengthened in the midfield. The hosts too have dangerous players like Victor Osimhen, Baris Yilmaz and Noa Lang that can cause problems to the Liverpool defensive line. The Reds have the advantage of playing the second leg at home and a draw won’t be a bad result for them considering they haven’t done well away against Galatasaray in their previous encounters. 

This is a difficult game to call but we believe Liverpool do possess the firepower to hurt Galatasaray if the hosts play open instead of a defensive block. However, considering their previous head-to-head record away against Galatasaray, our prediction would be a tight affair with the Reds coming away with a draw. 

Score Prediction: Galatasaray 1-1 Liverpool 

Atalanta BC vs Bayern Munich

The team from Bergamo, Atalanta will take on one of the most difficult sides in the competition, the German juggernaut Bayern Munich. 

While Bayern Munich were the second placed team in the UCL league phase, La Dea defeated another German outfit, upsetting Borussia Dortmund in dramatic fashion in the play-offs to squeeze through to the Round of 16. 

Atalanta is the only remaining Italian representative in the UCL and the former Europa League winners would want to go ahead to the next round but standing in their way is the six-time winners Bayern Munich who have been simply exceptional this season. 

Bayern is dominating the Bundesliga as usual and from an attacking point of view, their numbers are mind boggling. Already having scored a massive 92 goals in the league in just 25 games and leading the league table with an 11-point gap, they may win the Bundesliga by April. In the UCL as well, Bayern have been top class, losing only one game in the entire league phase campaign with some great results against Chelsea and PSG. Their current form is incredible as well as they have won all of their last six games. 

As for Atalanta, since their win against Dortmund, their form has gone out of the window. The Bergamaschi have managed to get only one point from two league games and also drawn with Lazio in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final. Their record against German teams in Europe has been great but Bayern Munich will definitely be their toughest test with the quality of players at their disposal and their current form. 

Injury-wise, Atalanta will miss the services of Giacomo Raspadori, Charles De Ketelaere and Georgio Scalvini with Ederson doubtful to start. Bayern too will miss a few key players in Harry Kane, Alphonso Davies, Manuel Neuer, Hiroki Ito and Cassiano Kiala. 

Even with Harry Kane missing, Bayern still possess attacking players in Luis Diaz, Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Nicolas Jackson who can score freely in his absence. Besides, Atalanta have been vulnerable in defence, leaking goals in most games and it would be difficult to see them stop this German side from scoring. Although, they could trouble Die Roten as Atalanta play attacking football. Our prediction for this game would be that it will be a tightly contested encounter with Bayern taking a one-goal lead back to Bavaria for the second leg. 

Score Prediction: Atalanta 1-2 Bayern Munich 

Real Madrid vs Manchester City

Familiar foes come face-to-face again in the Champions League, a heavyweight clash we have seen so many times in the last few seasons, though it never ceases to thrill. 

Last year, Real Madrid got the better of Manchester City in the playoffs and managed to reach the quarter-finals. The two met again in the league phase game at the Santiago Bernabéu where Manchester City defeated Real Madrid this time around. 

Two of the biggest teams in Europe will compete with each other to get through to the quarter-finals and will do so playing attacking football instead of holding back. 

Real Madrid haven’t been convincing this season even though one could argue that they are still in the LaLiga title race and still in contention for the Champions League with the kind of quality they possess. The injury to their star forward Kylian Mbappé has certainly weakened them in attack as he has been their prominent goalscorer this season. Los Blancos’ Champions League campaign has been ordinary by their exceptionally high standards as they couldn’t secure automatic qualification, losing to Liverpool, Manchester City and Benfica in the league phase. They had to compete in two playoff games to reach the last 16. In their last five games in all competitions, Real Madrid have won three and lost two games, even losing to Getafe at home. 

As for Manchester City, they haven’t been as perfect as they have been in earlier seasons’ title-races. Though they have been unbeaten in their last five, winning four and drawing one game, the Cityzens haven’t performed up to their best potential and are currently sitting in second place in the league, seven-point adrift of leaders Arsenal with a game in hand. Their Champions League campaign was decent as they managed to secure automatic qualification though they were upset by Bodø/Glimt and Bayer Leverkusen in the league phase. However, they are still alive in all competitions and have a huge chance of achieving silverware this season. 

From a personnel availability point of view, Real Madrid has massive issues. Rodrygo, David Alaba, Eder Militao, Dani Ceballos, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé are all out with Alvaro Carreras doubtful for this game. City will miss Jøsko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic with Max Alleyne doubtful for this encounter. 

With the news of their star striker Erling Haaland fit and available for this encounter, Pep Guardiola’s team becomes instantly stronger with Real Madrid main-man Mbappé missing. Also, with City due to play the second-leg at home, they do have a slight advantage and can get away with a draw here. It’s imperative for Real Madrid to get a big win at home so that they can defend their lead at the Etihad. However, if we look at the two teams, Madrid do look slightly weaker in terms of player form. Having said that, another difference for us would be the tactics from both managers as Pep Guardiola is a far more experienced and superior coach to the fairly inexperienced Alvaro Arbeloa. 

Having defeated Real Madrid already in the Champions League this season, we believe this could be another victory for the blue side of Manchester who will take away at least a one-goal advantage back to the Etihad. 

Score Prediction: Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City 

Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea

The finalists of the Club World Cup will face each other in this massive clash in the Round of 16. Although Chelsea got the better of PSG in the Club World Cup final, they have lost the coach that took them to that title and have blown hot and cold this season. 

The defending champions failed to perform well in the UCL league phase this season as well and struggled against Monaco in the playoffs to qualify for the Round of 16. However, unlike last season, their league form hasn’t been dominant as well, only leading the league by a point after 25 games. Le Parisiens lost their most recent league encounter to Monaco, which was their first defeat in their last five. 

As for the Blues, they have shown a decent run of form, only losing to Arsenal, winning three and drawing one in their last five games. Striker Joao Pedro has looked in sublime form in the past few games and could be a huge threat for the PSG backline. We do feel that Chelsea might go with a conservative approach in this game as they are playing the second leg at home and would be fine with a draw. However, PSG are very dominant at the Parc des Princes and stopping them would be a huge task for the Chelsea defence. 

From an injury perspective, PSG might miss two of their midfield trio in Fabián Ruiz and João Neves with Quentin Ndjantou for this game. Chelsea will have Levi Colwill, Estevao and Jamie Gittens unavailable for this game. 

PSG play a very attacking brand of football with their fullbacks running from wide positions and creating havoc for the opposition. Their forward line is equally dangerous with Khvicha Kvaratshkhelia, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola all capable of running at defenders and creating goal scoring opportunities and also scoring goals. If Chelsea don’t defend well, this tie could be over in the first leg as PSG will go all guns blazing at home, knowing they need to carry a sufficient lead to Stamford Bridge for the second leg. Chelsea might be put on the backfoot from the word go but they too can cause issues to the PSG defence with the likes of Pedro Neto, João Pedro and Cole Palmer. Moreover, the Blues need to be careful about fouls leading to red card offences as they have been culpable of reckless fouls making them the worst disciplined side in the Premier League this season. 

Coming to the prediction, even though PSG haven’t hit the ground running this season, they are still a well-coached team and could take on any team in the world with their attacking quality and positive intent. Hence, we believe this could be an entertaining game with PSG to win by a decent margin. 

Score Prediction: PSG 3-1 Chelsea