Chelsea and Bayern Could Face Same Opponent Three Times in Seven Days — Can All Six Premier League Teams Reach the Champions League Quarterfinals?

The Champions League round of 16 play-offs has reached a critical stage. The second-leg fixtures conclude this midweek, followed by the draw for the last 16 this weekend. Beyond the matches themselves, intriguing storylines emerge—could Bayern Munich and Chelsea meet in a mini “domestic derby,” and how far can the six Premier League clubs go?

Under the new Champions League format, same-league encounters are avoided during the group stage, but from the round of 16 onwards, these restrictions are lifted. Last season, PSG faced Brest, Bayern played Leverkusen, and Real Madrid clashed with Atlético in a city derby. However, from the quarterfinals onward, same-league matchups no longer occur.

This season, PSG again meets a domestic French opponent—Monaco. Unlike last season’s 10-goal two-leg win over Brest, PSG faced a tough challenge, overturning a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 after the first leg. In the round of 16, there could be up to three same-league clashes. If both Dortmund and Leverkusen advance, Bayern may meet Leverkusen again, recreating last season’s Bundesliga drama.

Newcastle’s first-leg five-goal advantage makes qualification highly likely, meaning their next opponent will be either Barcelona or Chelsea. This opens the possibility for a Premier League derby. Benfica, if they eliminate Real Madrid, could face either Manchester City or Sporting CP, potentially creating a Portuguese league derby.

Interestingly, Bayern and Chelsea also face Leverkusen and Newcastle, respectively, in their domestic leagues during the weekend between the two Champions League legs. Should they meet in the CL, they would face the same opponent for a third time in seven days—a scheduling challenge of extreme intensity.

For Newcastle, this period is a “hellish run”: Premier League clashes against Manchester United and Chelsea, FA Cup vs. Manchester City, plus Champions League ties vs. Barcelona or Chelsea.

Can all six Premier League clubs reach the quarterfinals? The theoretical requirement is that they don’t face each other in the round of 16. Five directly qualified teams won’t meet, but Newcastle’s draw is the key variable. If they draw Barcelona rather than Chelsea, all six could advance. However, this likely sets Chelsea against PSG, a highly unpredictable tie. The other four—Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Manchester City—face relatively less formidable opponents, though City could meet Real Madrid, Benfica, Bodø/Glimt, or Inter, making outcomes uncertain.

Will Chelsea face Newcastle three times in seven days? How many Premier League teams will make the quarterfinals? These questions add layers of suspense to the round of 16.