Arsenal and Liverpool have discovered their Champions League last-16 opponents after victories on the final matchday of the league stage. Arne Slot’s side beat FK Qarabag at Anfield while the Gunners defeated Kairat Almaty to seal their respective spots in the top eight, which means both avoid the play-off round.
Having confirmed their spot as league stage winners, Mikel Arteta‘s side knew they would be facing one of 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th. Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiacos, Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta are the teams they could face, which was only confirmed in the final stages of Wednesday’s action.
As a result of finishing third, Liverpool will face one of the teams that finished in 13th, 14th, 19th or 20th. That has been confirmed to be one of Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Atletico Madrid or Juventus.
Tottenham, Newcastle United, Manchester City and Chelsea were all in with a chance of finishing in the top eight and thus avoiding a play-off round, with three of those managing that. For finishing just below Liverpool, Thomas Frank’s side are set to face one of those four aforementioned teams that Liverpool could play, while Man City will take on one of Bodo/Glimt, Real Madrid, Inter or Benfica.
Chelsea looked set to miss out on going straight through to the first proper knockout round, but a Joao Pedro brace saw them complete a second-half comeback in Naples. That victory saw them end the league standings in sixth, which means they will play any of Monaco, Qarabag, Newcastle or Paris Saint-Germain.
As a result of drawing against Paris Saint-Germain, the Magpies are the only Premier League team in the play-offs. They have ended the league stage in 12th and will thus face one of PSG, Monaco or Qarabag with a last-16 tie against either Barcelona or Chelsea to follow that if they advance.
For Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester City and Chelsea, it is a major fixture boost with two fewer games to contest in a busy February. All five will have a keen eye on those play-off games, which will be determined in the draw on Friday, to have an idea of the team they will face in the last-16.