On Friday evening, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) formally announced the schedule for the Round of 16 matches in the UEFA Champions League, shortly following the draw ceremony conducted earlier that day. The draw took place in the Swiss city of Neuchâtel, featuring the presence of Croatian legend Ivan Rakitić, and culminated in the arrangement of eight compelling fixtures.

The first legs of the Round of 16 are slated for March 10 and March 11, hosted at the stadiums of the teams advancing from the playoffs, while the second legs will occur on March 17 and March 18, staged by clubs that qualified directly from the group stage.

The opening match between Newcastle United and Barcelona is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, at Newcastle’s home ground in England. The return leg will take place on Wednesday, March 18, in Spain.

According to a report by Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona accomplished a dual advantage stemming from this scheduling arrangement. The La Liga fixture between Barcelona and Sevilla will be held on Sunday, March 15, coinciding precisely with the date of the Catalan club’s presidential elections. This alignment was a deliberate request from Barcelona’s officials, intended to maximize the turnout of club members during the election process.

Although the La Liga Association had consented to Barcelona’s petition to host the Sevilla match on March 15, the club awaited confirmation of the Champions League matches’ dates before finalizing the domestic fixture. This confirmation was secured upon UEFA’s announcement, satisfying the desires of all presidential candidates and the club’s general assembly.

Consequently, supporters will have the opportunity to attend the league match at the Spotify Camp Nou stadium and simultaneously participate in the electoral process. The scheduling of the Newcastle return leg on March 18 also affords a three-day interval between the Sevilla encounter and the European fixture, facilitating adequate rest for the players.

Regarding the first leg, set for March 10 in Newcastle, the La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao will be advanced to Saturday, March 7, instead of Sunday, March 8, to accommodate the European calendar.

Beyond the synchronization with the election day, Barcelona benefits from an eight-day gap between the two Champions League legs, offering valuable respite to the squad. In contrast, Real Madrid faces a tighter schedule against Manchester City, with their matches occurring on Wednesday, March 11 in Spain, and Tuesday, March 17 in England, resulting in a shorter recovery period and potential fatigue risks for both teams.

Complete Schedule of UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Matches

*Matches are hosted by the teams listed first

*All times are in Mecca time zone (GMT+3)

First Leg Fixtures

Tuesday, March 10:

Galatasaray vs. Liverpool (20:45)

Atalanta vs. Bayern Munich (23:00)

Atlético Madrid vs. Tottenham Hotspur (23:00)

Newcastle United vs. Barcelona (23:00)

Wednesday, March 11:

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Arsenal (20:45)

Bodø/Glimt vs. Sporting Lisbon (23:00)

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Chelsea (23:00)

Real Madrid vs. Manchester City (23:00)

Second Leg Fixtures

Tuesday, March 17:

Sporting Lisbon vs. Bodø/Glimt (20:45)

Arsenal vs. Bayer Leverkusen (23:00)

Chelsea vs. Paris Saint-Germain (23:00)

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid (23:00)

Wednesday, March 18:

Barcelona vs. Newcastle United (20:45)

Bayern Munich vs. Atalanta (23:00)

Liverpool vs. Galatasaray (23:00)

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Atlético Madrid (23:00)