:focal(177x40:179x38)/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/11/image-513d55fe-97f1-4ed6-819c-cba7dfeb97a1-85-2560-1440.jpeg "Route to Budapest: Who each PL team could face on way to UCL final - TNT Sports")
Premier League sides endured a tough set of results in the first legs of their UEFA Champions League last-16 ties as they all failed to win - but their European adventures aren't over yet. All six still have the chance to battle back in their respective second legs this week. Here is how each of the Premier League sides in the competition can reach the final in Budapest.
Premier League clubs endured a difficult start to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
All six English sides failed to win their first legs last week, but will be looking to bounce back this week in the return legs, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, and Tottenham Hotspur will be back in action on Tuesday and Wednesday, and they will be desperate to move one step closer to the final at the Puskas Arena in the Hungarian capital of Budapest on May 30.
If they do advance, who could the Premier League teams meet next in the quarter-finals and beyond? And when could they face each other in the competition?
Arsenal
Arsenal may be leading the way at the top of the Premier League table, but they needed a late Kai Havertz penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw against Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their last-16 clash.
They appear to have a favourable route to Budapest if they can get past their German rivals at the Emirates.
They will face the winner of Bodo/Glimt v Sporting CP in the quarter-finals.
Bodo/Glimt are 3-0 up after the first leg, so Gunners fans could be set for a trip to Norway.
If the Gunners win their quarter-final tie, they will then play one of Newcastle, Barcelona, Tottenham, or Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals.
The match between the Magpies and Barcelona could still go either way after a 1-1 draw in the first leg at St James’ Park.
However, a Champions League north London derby seems unlikely after Atletico took control in the first leg with a 5-2 win against Spurs.
If they reach the final, Arsenal could still face any of the teams on the other side of the draw.
That includes Premier League rivals Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool, as well as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, and Atalanta.
Arsenal's route to the final
Quarter-finals: Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP
Semi-finals: Newcastle United, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur or Atletico Madrid
Final: Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, or Atalanta
Newcastle United
Newcastle face a tough trip to the Camp Nou for the second leg of their last-16 tie with Barcelona.
If they come out on top after a 1-1 draw in the first leg, they will face Spurs or Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals.
They will then go head-to-head with one of Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP in the semi-finals.
Like Arsenal, Newcastle will then have to contend with one of Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, or Atalanta in the climax of the tournament.
Newcastle's route to the final
Quarter-finals: Tottenham Hotspur or Atletico Madrid
Semi-finals: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP
Final: Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, or Atalanta
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs are hanging on to their Champions League dream by a thread after their 5-2 loss to Atletico last week.
If they somehow manage to bring it back, they can look ahead to an all-English quarter-final against Newcastle or a mouth-watering tie with Barcelona.
If they win that, they could face bitter rivals Arsenal in the semi-finals.
However, they could also end up facing one of Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP instead.
Spurs would then have to beat either Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, or Atalanta to secure what would surely go down as one of the most remarkable Champions League triumphs of all time.
Tottenham's route to the final
Quarter-finals: Newcastle United or Barcelona
Semi-finals: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP
Final: Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, or Atalanta
Manchester City
Like Spurs, Manchester City were humbled by Spanish opposition in the first leg of the last 16 of the Champions League.
A phenomenal Federico Valverde hat-trick saw them sink to a 3-0 defeat against Real Madrid at the Estadio Bernabeu.
If they are able to overturn the three-goal deficit at the Etihad, then they will play either German giants Bayern Munich or Serie A side Atalanta in the quarter-finals.
Secure another win, and City could face a semi-final clash with Premier League rivals Liverpool or Chelsea.
Alternatively, they could end up going toe-to-toe with Galatasaray or PSG.
Get past that hurdle, and City will have to contend with one of Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP in the final.
Man City's route to the final
Quarter-finals: Bayern Munich or Atalanta
Semi-finals: Liverpool, Chelsea, Galatasaray or Paris Saint-Germain
Final: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP
Chelsea
Chelsea also suffered a disappointing result in the first leg of their last 16 clash with PSG.
They were beaten 5-2 in Paris, and face a huge challenge to battle back and beat the holders.
If the Blues advance they could set up a classic Champions League fixture with Liverpool in the quarter-finals, assuming the Reds can get past Galatasaray.
They will then play one of Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Manchester City or Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Bodo/Glimt and Sporting CP are battling it out for a place in the final on the other side of the draw.
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Chelsea's route to the final
Quarter-finals: Liverpool or Galatasaray
Semi-finals: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Manchester City or Real Madrid
Final: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP
Liverpool
Liverpool will need to overturn a one-goal deficit against Galatasaray to set up a clash with either Chelsea or PSG in the quarter-finals.
Win that, and they will play one of Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Manchester City or Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
They have the same line-up of potential final opponents as City and Chelsea.
Liverpool's route to the final
Quarter-finals: Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain
Semi-finals: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Manchester City or Real Madrid
Final: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP
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