Meet the 2025/26 Champions League round of 16 contenders

League phase: W8 D0 L0 F23 A4 (1st place)

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Gabriel Martinelli (55)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 8

Last season: Semi-final (L1-3agg vs Paris)

Best European Cup performance: Runners-up (2005/06)

UEFA's Arsenal reporter, Joseph Terry: In one word: perfect. No other team has ever gone through the league phase with a 100% winning record, plus Arsenal were top scorers and kept five clean sheets. Every campaign Mikel Arteta's side show demonstrable progress in this competition and, given that last season they went out in the semi-finals to eventual winners Paris, the Gunners must surely be considered strong contenders for a spot in this year's final in Budapest.

Coach: Mikel Arteta

Assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City from 2016 to 2019, Arteta guided Arsenal to a 14th FA Cup in his first season in charge. After eighth and fifth-placed Premier League finishes in 2021 and 2022 respectively, Arteta's team have come runners-up in each of the last three campaigns.

Key player: Bukayo Saka

Saka came through the ranks before his breakout season with the Gunners in 2019/20. Blessed with pace and fine finishing ability, the right-winger passed 50 league goals and 250 total appearances for the club last term. An FA Cup winner in 2020, he has also played in the last two EURO finals for England.

Did you know?

By beating Athletic Club (2-0 on Matchday 1) and Atleti (4-0 on Matchday 3), Arsenal became the first team to win seven straight matches against Spanish clubs in European Cup/Champions League history.

League phase: W4 D1 L3 F10 A10 (15th place)

Knockout phase play-off: 4-3agg vs Borussia Dortmund

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Davide Zappacosta (42)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 15

Last season: Knockout phase play-offs (L2-5agg vs Club Brugge)

Best European Cup performance: Quarter-finals (2019/20)

UEFA's Atalanta reporter, Tommaso Sardella: Atalanta have come a long way since a 4-0 defeat at reigning champions Paris on Matchday 1. Home wins against Club Brugge and Chelsea, combined with away successes over Marseille and Frankfurt, showcased Atalanta's 3-4-3 formation, rich in attacking solutions thanks to their technical midfielders. They secured a spot in the knockout phase with two games to spare, and the play-off was then their campaign in microcosm as they recovered from a 2-0 loss at Borussia Dortmund to advance courtesy of 98th-minute spot kick in the return.

Coach: Raffaele Palladino

Raffaele Palladino was appointed Atalanta head coach following the departure of Ivan Jurić, who had steered La Dea to two wins, one draw and one loss through four league phase matches. The 41-year-old most recently coached Fiorentina, guiding the Viola to the Conference League semi-finals and a sixth-placed Serie A finish in his only season at the helm.

Key player: Charles De Ketelaere

The Belgian international has emerged as a decisive figure in Atalanta's European campaign, finding the net against Frankfurt and Chelsea. Always positive in his approach, De Ketelaere combines technical quality with tactical intelligence, constantly looking to make things happen between the lines. In difficult moments, he is ready to take responsibility and lift the team, showing the mentality and presence of a true leader.

Did you know?

Eleven of Atalanta's 14 goals en route to the last 16 have come in the second half of their matches.

League phase: W4 D1 L3 F17 A15 (14th place)

Knockout phase play-off: 7-4agg vs Club Brugge

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Julián Alvarez (49)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 12

Last season: Round of 16 (2-2agg, L2-4pens vs Real Madrid)

Best European Cup performance: Runners-up (1973/74, 2013/14, 2015/16)

UEFA's Atleti reporter, Juan Díaz: Atleti have turned the Estadio Metropolitano into a fortress. The Rojiblancos won their first three home games, scoring ten goals and conceding just three, only losing the last on Matchday 8 when a top-eight place became unlikely. They returned to winning ways against Club Brugge in the knockout phase play-off second leg. The Rojiblancos have been prolific in front of goal, with 12 players finding the net spearheaded by Alexander Sørloth and Julián Alvarez. Now comes the moment of truth: they must consolidate their away form, while continuing to shine in Madrid, to make a real impression in this season's tournament.

Coach: Diego Simeone

In his 15th season at the helm having arrived in December 2011, Simeone has qualified for the last 13 editions of the Champions League. As well as winning La Liga twice with Atleti, he has led the club to two Europa League triumphs, two UEFA Super Cups and two Champions League finals. The ultimate European crown has evaded him, though, and remains the one big trophy missing from his cabinet.

Key player: Julián Alvarez

After making an impressive impact in his first season in Spain with seven Champions League goals (29 in all competitions), this campaign is shaping up for Alvarez to underline his status as Atleti's key man. 'La Araña' (the Spider), who was previously prolific at River Plate and Manchester City, is bound to play a vital role as Simeone's side look to go all the way in the Champions League.

Did you know?

Antoine Griezmann's goal against Frankfurt on Matchday 2 means the French forward has now scored in the Champions League in 12 successive seasons.

League phase: W5 D1 L2 F22 A14 (5th place)

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Fermín López (54)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 7

Last season: Semi-finals (L6-7agg vs Inter)

Best European Cup performance: Winners (1991/92, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2014/15)

UEFA's Barcelona reporter, Graham Hunter: It has been a strange campaign so far for last season's semi-finalists. From the Marcus Rashford-inspired joy of St James' Park and victory over Newcastle to the chastening 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea were distinctly superior, if you examine Barcelona's stats it can feel a bit confusing. They were joint second-top scorers, and only Real Madrid attempted more dribbles. Yet conceding 14 times in eight league phase matches is far from what coach Hansi Flick demands. Perhaps there are explanations, in Lamine Yamal only managing five of those games and Pedri only playing 400 of the available 720 minutes.

Coach: Hansi Flick

Flick guided Bayern to a Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League treble, also winning the UEFA Men's Coach of the Year award in 2020. After further domestic success the next term, Flick took over the Germany national team, with his tenure ending in 2023. The third German coach in Barcelona's history, Flick led the club to a domestic double last season.

Key player: Lamine Yamal

Fresh from a triumphant and record-breaking EURO 2024 with Spain, teenager Yamal cemented his status as one of the most exciting players in the world last season. He became the youngest-ever player to appear in the Champions League knockout phase at 16 years, 223 days and has broken various other international records since. A generational talent.

Did you know?

In beating Olympiacos 6-1 on Matchday 3, Barcelona scored six goals in a Champions League match for the first time in more than eight years. The last occasion was their famous 6-1 victory against Paris in the round of 16 second leg in 2017.

League phase: W7 D0 L1 F22 A8 (2nd place)

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Harry Kane (58)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 2

Last season: Quarter-finals (L3-4agg vs Inter)

Best European Cup performance: Winners (1973/74, 1974/75, 1975/76, 2000/01, 2012/13, 2019/20)

UEFA's Bayern reporter, James Thorogood: In just over a season in one of the most demanding jobs in world football, Vincent Kompany has restored Bayern's aura of invincibility. The German record titleholders had a point to prove after missing out on the top eight last season and are producing form reminiscent of the Jupp Heynckes, Hansi Flick or Pep Guardiola eras. The loss to Arsenal in London was the only blotch on a campaign that saw them reach 100 goals in all competitions heading into Matchday 7, when they duly beat Union SG to seal a spot in the round of 16. Something special is brewing in Bavaria.

Coach: Vincent Kompany

Kompany's first season in the dugout at Bayern had its ups and downs: his side were eliminated in the German Cup round of 16 and the Champions League quarter-finals, but regained the Bundesliga title by a 13-point margin to complete their declared goal for the campaign. Once a defender for Man City and Belgium, Kompany's attacking style guarantees plenty of goals, but also involves risks.

Key player: Harry Kane

Since his summer 2023 move from Tottenham, Kane has been Bundesliga top scorer for two seasons in a row. In that period, he has amassed 19 goals and provided six assists in 25 Champions League appearances, averaging a goal contribution per game. With Jamal Musiala only recently returning from a fibula fracture, the German champions will be particularly reliant on Kane delivering.

Did you know?

On Matchday 4, Joshua Kimmich made his 100th Champions League outing – all for Bayern. He became the 30th player to reach a century for a single club and the fifth for Bayern after Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm and Oliver Kahn.

League phase: W2 D3 L3 F14 A15 (23rd place)

Knockout phase play-off: 5-2agg vs Inter

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Jens Petter Hauge (59)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 34

Last season: Europa League semi-finals (L1-5agg vs Tottenham)

Best European Cup performance: Round of 16 (2025/26)

UEFA's Bodø/Glimt reporter, Sara Nilssen Kilen: Bodø/Glimt's first-ever Champions League campaign was been defined by narrow margins – at least until their triumph over last season's runners-up Inter in the knockout phase play-offs. The Norwegian side did not record a win in their opening six games but their performances suggested they belonged at this level. Draws with Tottenham at home and Borussia Dortmund away highlighted their resilience. Too often strong displays went unrewarded but that all changed as Bodø/Glimt progressed by beating Manchester City and Atleti in their last two league phase games, following that up by stunning Inter. And the team from the Arctic Circle are not done yet.

Coach: Kjetil Knutsen

Knutsen has been a revelation at Bodø ever since joining, initially as an assistant, in 2017. Appointed head coach the following season, Knutsen has steered his side to four Norwegian Premier Division titles, along with achieving deep runs in the Conference League and a memorable adventure to the Europa League semi-finals last season. Regarded as an inspirational, motivational figure, Knutsen has already established himself as a Bodø legend.

Key player: Jens Petter Hauge

The winger has been one of Bodø/Glimt's key performers in the Champions League. A product of Glimt's academy from the age of 13, he scored twice against Spurs in what he and many experts called his best game for the club. Hauge also scored the crucial equaliser against Borussia Dortmund, the third goal against Manchester City and in both legs against Inter. His impact on Europe's biggest stage only seems to be growing.

Did you know?

Having become the first Norwegian team to win a match in the Champions League proper since Rosenborg defeated Valencia 2-0 in Spain on 6 November 2007 by beating Manchester City on Matchday 7, Bodø/Glimt then became the first club from Norway to win a knockout tie in the competition proper when they ousted Inter.

League phase: W5 D1 L2 F17 A10 (6th place)

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Moisés Caicedo (38)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 11

Last season: Conference League winners (W4-1 vs Real Betis)

Best European Cup performance: Winners (2011/12, 2020/21)

UEFA's Chelsea reporter, Joseph Terry: The league phase has been something of a mixed bag for the two-time winners on their return to the competition after a three-year absence. The stunning victory against Barcelona on Matchday 5 showed the potential within Chelsea's outrageously talented squad, but their biggest problem – so often the case with young sides – has been consistency. Points dropped in losses to Bayern München and Atalanta, as well the draw with Qarabag, left the Blues with a battle to finish in the top eight, but the 3-2 success at Napoli when it mattered showed they could come of age in the latter stages.

Coach: Liam Rosenior

The 41-year-old switched from Strasbourg to Stamford Bridge following Enzo Maresca's departure in January. He began his coaching career as an interim manager at Derby in 2022 before his first permanent role with former club Hull. An England Under-21 international as a player, Rosenior had been in charge at Strasbourg since the start of the 2024/25 season, ending his first campaign in France in seventh place and qualifying for the UEFA Conference League.

Key player: Cole Palmer

A Manchester City academy graduate, Palmer had limited opportunities as the Citizens won the 2022/23 Champions League, but made his name following a move to Stamford Bridge in 2023, scoring 22 goals in his first Premier League campaign. The exciting attacking midfielder drew attention when he struck an ice-cold late equaliser against Spain in the UEFA EURO 2024 final.

Did you know?

Chelsea achieved a new feat in their 5-1 win over Ajax on Matchday 3 – the first team in Champions League history to have three teenagers score in the same match (Marc Guiu, Estêvão, and Tyrique George).

League phase: W3 D1 L4 F9 A11 (20th place)

Knockout phase play-off: 7-5agg, aet vs Juventus

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Victor Osimhen (62)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 47

Last season: Europa League knockout phase play-offs (L3-6agg vs AZ Alkmaar)

Best European Cup performance: Semi-finals (1988/89)

UEFA's Galatasaray reporter, Eren Ötken: The 5-1 loss in their opener in Frankfurt was a false start, Okan Buruk's men rallying in style by beating Liverpool, Bodø/Glimt and Ajax in consecutive matches as Victor Osimhen found his touch in front of goal. The Nigerian forward has been the focal point of the Turkish side's attacks, never more so than in the knockout phase play-offs when Cimbom stunned Juventus 5-2 at home before holding off a famous comeback in Turin. And who else but Osimhen got the crucial goal in extra time?

Coach: Okan Buruk

Part of the famed Galatasaray team that earned UEFA Cup honours in 2000 and then defeated Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup, Okan Buruk returned to manage his old club in summer 2022 and has since led them to three straight Turkish Super League titles and two domestic cups. As well as extending that run of domestic success, Buruk has broken new ground in this competition having fallen at the group stage with Galatasaray in 2023/24 and İstanbul Başakşehir in 2020/21.

Key player: Victor Osimhen

A loanee in 2024/25, Osimhen joined Galatasaray on a permanent basis last summer. The 27-year-old was Serie A's top scorer when Napoli claimed a first Scudetto in 33 years in 2023 and was crowned African Player of the Year that December, but produced a more modest return of 15 goals in 2023/24 before making his loan move in September 2024. Twenty-six Turkish Super League goals and six UEFA Europa League strikes followed, setting a high bar for this, his second season in red and yellow.

Did you know?

Galatasaray last made it past the group stage/league phase in 2013/14. They had fallen at this stage five times since before ending that run this season.

League phase: W3 D3 L2 F13 A14 (16th place)

Knockout phase play-off: 2-0agg vs Olympiacos

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Alejandro Grimaldo (84)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 9

Last season: Round of 16 (L0-5agg vs Bayern)

Best European Cup performance: Runners-up (2001/02)

UEFA's Leverkusen reporter, Charlie Mason: Leverkusen made a slow start to their Champions League campaign – not helped by the early change of coach from Erik ten Hag to Kasper Hjulmand – and the low point came with a 7-2 home loss to Paris. The German side found their feet with back-to-back victories at Benfica and Manchester City and a draw with Newcastle. A reverse at Olympiacos in the penultimate game took things down to the wire against Villarreal, but they stood tall to progress and underlined their improvement by seeing off Olympiacos in the knockout phase play-offs, taking their tally of clean sheets to five in seven in the process.

Coach: Kasper Hjulmand

Erik ten Hag left Leverkusen on 1 September, with Hjulmand installed as his replacement seven days later. The former defender led Nordsjælland to their first Danish title in 2011/12 and then steered them into the Champions League group stage. He coached Mainz in the Bundesliga in 2014/15 and was in charge of the Denmark national team from 2020 to 2024, guiding them to the 2022 World Cup and UEFA EURO 2024.

Key player: Aleix García

Granit Xhaka's summer departure left a gaping hole in Leverkusen's midfield which García has comfortably filled in his second campaign at the BayArena. The 28-year-old dictates play in the middle and boasts some of the best distribution stats in the Champions League, in terms of quantity as well as quality. Often the one providing the pass before the assist, the Spanish international is the key player who opponents will need to shackle in the knockout phase.

Did you know?

Leverkusen reached the landmark of 50 European Cup victories when they beat Manchester City 2-0 on Matchday 5.

League phase: W6 D0 L2 F20 A8 (3rd place)

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Dominik Szoboszlai (67)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 4

Last season: Round of 16 (1-1agg, L1-4pens vs Paris)

Best European Cup performance: Winners (1976/77, 1977/78, 1980/81, 1983/84, 2004/05, 2018/19)

UEFA's Liverpool reporter, Matthew Howarth: Last season's league-phase winners secured an automatic place in the last 16 for the second campaign running, although it was not all smooth sailing. Galatasaray and PSV both got the better of Arne Slot's team, but eye-catching wins over Atleti, Real Madrid and Inter – not to mention comfortable victories in Frankfurt and Marseille – helped cement the Reds' place in the top eight. Mission accomplished for the 2019 winners.

Coach: Arne Slot

It takes a brave man to step into the enormous shoes left by Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool, but the Dutchman enjoyed the challenge. The former Cambuur and AZ Alkmaar coach garnered a reputation for fast-paced, attacking football at Feyenoord, leading the team to the Conference League final in 2022 and the Eredivisie title a year later. Slot capped his maiden season at Anfield by bringing the Reds a first league title for five years.

Key player: Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool's captain and central defensive leader, Van Dijk was at his imperious best last term, and when he is at the top of his game there are few forwards in world football who can get the better of him. Now in his ninth campaign at Anfield, the centre-back will want to add to the eight major trophies he has already lifted with the Reds.

Did you know?

Liverpool and Juventus both scored their 500th goals in European Cup/Champions League history during Matchday 5 – Real Madrid, Bayern, Barcelona, Manchester United and Benfica are the only other clubs to reach that milestone.

League phase: W5 D1 L2 F15 A9 (8th place)

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Erling Haaland (48)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 5

Last season: Knockout phase play-offs (L3-6agg vs Real Madrid)

Best European Cup performance: Winners (2022/23)

UEFA's Man City reporter, Steve Bates: An opening-day win against Napoli was followed by two more victories and a draw, suggesting a serene passage to the knockout phase for the 2023 winners. But since then it's been a roller-coaster ride for Josep Guardiola's team. Defeats against Leverkusen and Bødo/Glimt – either side of a fine win at Real Madrid – set up a huge league phase finale against Galatasaray, and City delivered to seal round of 16 qualification.

Coach: Josep Guardiola

One of the most decorated coaches in the game, the 55-year-old won this competition twice with Barcelona before ending a 12-year wait for a third triumph with City in 2023. He scooped three league titles apiece at the helm of the Catalan club and Bayern, and made it six Premier League winners' medals with City in 2023/24 .

Key player: Erling Haaland

Haaland remains the key to City's hopes of progressing deep into the knockout phase. Haaland had scored 40 goals in 38 games for club and country come the end of the league phase, thanks to a phenomenal game based on raw power, speed and a laser-sharp focus in front of goal. The Norwegian operates in perfect symmetry with his City team-mates, a union that helped him become the fastest player to reach 50 Champions League goals (in 49 games) against Napoli on Matchday 1 to add to his stack of Champions League scoring records.

Did you know?

Following his strikes against Villarreal and Real Madrid in the league phase, Erling Haaland has scored ten times in ten appearances against Spanish teams in the Champions League proper.

League phase: W4 D2 L2 F17 A7 (12th place)

Knockout phase play-off: 9-3agg vs Qarabağ

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Anthony Gordon (87)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 75

Last season: Not in European competition

Best European Cup performance: Second group stage (2002/03)

UEFA's Newcastle reporter, Matthew Howarth: Three straight victories against Union SG, Benfica and Athletic Club put Newcastle in a strong position after defeat by Barcelona in their opener, but only one point from away games in Marseille and Leverkusen meant the Magpies had work to do heading into their final two fixtures. The 3-0 win against PSV secured knockout football and a draw at Paris is not to be sniffed at. Eddie Howe's side breezed through their knockout phase play-off against Qarabağ, thanks in no small part to four away goals from Anthony Gordon. Confidence is high.

Coach: Eddie Howe

Newcastle were 19th in the Premier League when Howe took charge in November 2021, but the 48-year-old English manager is now leading the Magpies in their second Champions League participation in three seasons. Howe's Newcastle are defined by their relentless, physical style – something that was on display in their last Champions League campaign, most memorably the 4-1 defeat of Paris at St James' Park.

Key player: Bruno Guimarães

All-action midfielder Guimarães joined from Lyon in 2022 and quickly endeared himself to the Newcastle faithful through his grit, passion and quality. Particularly effective when operating ahead of Sandro Tonali and alongside Joelinton in midfield, the Brazil international registered five Premier League goals and six assists last season and wore the armband in the landmark League Cup triumph.

Did you know?

Newcastle have lost only four of their last 36 home European matches (W25 D7).

League phase: W4 D2 L2 F21 A11 (11th place)

Knockout phase play-off: 5-4agg vs Monaco

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Vitinha (69)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 6

Last season: Winners (W5-0 vs Inter)

Best European Cup performance: Winners (2024/25)

UEFA's Paris reporter, Alex Clementson: A rampant 7-2 victory over Leverkusen in October marked three wins from three for Paris, but their seamless progress then hit a snag. Defeats by Bayern and Sporting CP and draws with Athletic Club and Newcastle meant they finished 11th and again had to come through the knockout phase play-offs, where they were pushed all the way by Monaco. Luis Enrique’s side have been irrepressible at times, producing performances reminiscent of their title-winning campaign, but occasional lapses in concentration and, however paradoxical it sounds, struggles in converting chances will need to be remedied.

Coach: Luis Enrique

The ex-Barcelona and Real Madrid player won nine trophies during a hugely successful three-year spell in charge of the Blaugrana then coached Spain to the EURO 2020 semi-finals and the 2021 Nations League final. He scooped a domestic double in his first season in Paris before steering them to their first Champions League title in a trophy-packed 2024/25 that also included Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.

Key player: Ousmane Dembélé

After a mixed first term with Paris, the former Dortmund and Barcelona forward proved decisive with 35 goals and 14 assists in 53 games in 2024/25. He was one of the key players in the team's Champions League triumph and finished top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals. Still only 28, Dembélé has also passed 50 caps for France.

Did you know?

Paris had played 104 successive Champions League games without featuring in a goalless draw before the streak ended with their stalemate at Athletic Club on Matchday 6.

League phase: W5 D0 L3 F21 A12 (9th place)

Knockout phase play-off: 3-1agg vs Benfica

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Kylian Mbappé (82)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 1

Last season: Quarter-finals (L1-5agg vs Arsenal)

Best European Cup performance: Winners (1955/56, 1956/57, 1957/58, 1958/59, 1959/60, 1965/66, 1997/98, 1999/2000, 2001/02, 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2021/22, 2023/24)

UEFA's Real Madrid reporter, Graham Hunter: Closely reflecting their domestic form, this has been a campaign of ups and downs for Los Blancos. They've had to cope with a string of repetitive injuries to key players. On occasions, they've shrugged that off; other times, it has been a key factor in their performance level. Defeat at Liverpool was unquestionably the low point, while any victory over Juventus is sweet, but the match that epitomises their campaign was the 4-3 success at Olympiacos. Kylian Mbappé scored four goals and Madrid often looked imperious but, by the end, they were defending a slender lead in a seven-goal thriller.

Coach: Álvaro Arbeloa

Madrid announced Arbeloa as Xabi Alonso's replacement on 12 January. A decorated full-back who made 238 appearances for the club as a player, he also played in a Champions League final for Liverpool in 2007. Arbeloa had been in charge of Madrid's B team since June 2025, having spent his entire coaching career since 2020 in the club's youth academy.

Key player: Kylian Mbappé

After a first season of adaptation – which still yielded an impressive 44 goals across all competitions, seven in the Champions League – Mbappé has taken it up a level this year and is leading from the front. The 27-year-old's style and goals make him the standout man in an already star-studded line-up and he will hope to add to his vast trophy haul from Paris, which comes embellished with World Cup and Nations League medals with France.

Did you know?

On Matchday 5, Kylian Mbappé scored the second fastest hat-trick in Champions League history, grabbing three goals at Olympiacos in six minutes and 42 seconds. Mbappé's feat has only been bettered by Mohamed Salah, whose treble for Liverpool against Rangers in 2022 was timed at six minutes and 12 seconds.

League phase: W5 D1 L2 F17 A11 (7th place)

Top Fantasy Football points scorer: Francisco Trincão (53)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 18

Last season: Knockout phase play-offs (L0-3agg vs Dortmund)

Best European Cup performance: Quarter-finals (1982/83)

UEFA's Sporting CP reporter, Carlos Machado: This league phase showed a more consistent, competitive Sporting, with a European maturity and confidence that helped them beat holders Paris and perform well against Bayern in Munich, where they led at one point. The team's identity, the dynamics of the 4-2-3-1, are more consolidated. Even with injuries to important players during the league phase, they have a belief, a drive, that they can do well and it was remarkable that they finished in the top eight by winning in Bilbao on Matchday 8. The Lions are making history in the competition year after year and opponents are waking up to their abilities.

Coach: Rui Borges

In his first full season at the helm, Rui Borges is fully implementing his vision and tactics after reversing the downward spiral that affected the team during the 2024/25 campaign. The 44-year-old has previously held the managerial reins at the likes of Académica, Nacional, Vilafranquense, Mafra, Moreirense and Vitória SC.

Key player: Francisco Trincão

The winger guarantees moments of magic and unpredictability, and is increasingly consistent with goals and assists. The team rely heavily on him to create attacking opportunities and unlock solid defences, with the former Braga, Barcelona and Wolves man having reached double figures for goals in each of his last three campaigns at Sporting CP.

Did you know?

Sporting CP have lost only two of their last 13 UEFA competition matches at home (W8 D3). They won all four home games in the league phase of this season's Champions League.

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