The Champions League Last 16: Chelsea FC's Potential Opponents
After a dramatic league phase, Chelsea FC has secured a spot in the Champions League last 16, joining fellow English sides Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Manchester City in direct progress. The Blues finished sixth in the final league phase table, just a point ahead of Real Madrid and Inter Milan, who came ninth and 10th respectively. This eventful campaign included a memorable 3-0 home victory over Barcelona and a thrashing of Ajax at Stamford Bridge, as well as wins over Jose Mourinho's Benfica and Cypriot debutants Pafos.
However, the real test lies ahead. Chelsea will face one of the winners of the knockout phase play-offs, which involve the 11th, 12th, 21st, and 22nd seeds: Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle, Monaco, or Qarabag. The play-off draw has already seen Newcastle paired with Qarabag and PSG placed alongside Ligue 1 rivals Monaco.
An all-Premier League showdown is now possible after Newcastle's impressive victory over Qarabag. This success contrasts with Chelsea's failure during the league phase, as Anthony Gordon scored four first-half goals in a 6-1 first-leg thrashing in Azerbaijan. The Magpies side, with a heavily rotated lineup, came through a topsy-turvy second leg 3-2 at St James' Park, winning the tie 9-3 on aggregate.
Meanwhile, PSG, the defending champions, have also faced domestic opposition in the knockout play-offs. They overcame Monaco 3-2 in the first leg at the Stade Louis II, with substitute Desire Doue netting a brace and Achraf Hakimi on target. This came after an early two-goal deficit, with ex-Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun scoring for Monaco. The second leg was equally tense, with Maghnes Akliouche leveling the score on aggregate. However, Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia put the tie beyond their French rivals, despite Jordan Teze's late strike.
As Chelsea FC looks ahead to the last 16, they could face a tough task against PSG, who have not sealed automatic progress into the last 16 this season. The Blues, who have not made the Champions League quarter-finals since 2022/23, will need to be at their best to overcome their potential opponents and continue their Champions League journey.
