Who could Newcastle face in today’s Champions League draw?

Newcastle United are proving that they are a competitive Champions League team as they look to progress further in the European top-flight.

Four wins and two draws (plus two defeats) was not enough to ensure that Eddie Howe ’s side finished in the top eight spots of the league phase table and a battling 1-1 draw with PSG on the final matchday of the league phase meant both teams entered the play-off stage.

Newcastle were drawn against Qarabag who finished 22nd in the table and Azerbaijani side’s form all but abandoned them in the first leg as Anthony Gordon inspired the Magpies to a 6-1 rout in Baku. Newcastle then finished off the job in the second leg to progress 9-3 on aggregate.

Four wins from their last five matches across all competitions puts Newcastle in good form but will they be strong enough to battle past their opponents in the round of 16?

Coming through the play-off stage means that Newcastle will only face one of two opponents: Chelsea or Barcelona . Those two clubs have been paired together after finishing fifth and sixth in the league phase and will be drawn on opposite sides of the bracket.

Whichever team ends up facing Newcastle the other will play Paris Saint-Germain after the reigning Champions League holders edging their play-off tie with Monaco 5-4 after the second leg.

When is the draw?

The Champions League last-16 draw will take place in Nyon at 11am GMT (12pm local time) on Friday 27 February.

How to watch online

The draw will be streamed live on Uefa’s website, YouTube channel and Champions League app.

What are the match dates?

The last-16 ties will take place in mid-March. Here are the remaining round dates:

Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026

Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026

Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026

Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)