champions league

UCL bracket: Who are Barcelona playing next in 2026 UEFA Champions League QFs after beating Newcastle?

After knocking Newcastle out of the UEFA Champions League in the round of 16, Barcelona are moving on to the quarterfinals, where they await their next opponent.

Lamine Yamal at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain.
© Alex Caparros/Getty ImagesLamine Yamal at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain.

Barcelona are through to the quarterfinals in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League. Following the blowout 7-2 win (8-3 aggregate) over Newcastle in the round of 16, the Catalan side awaits confirmation on its next challenge.

After knocking an English team out of the tournament, Barcelona will face either another Premier League side or a fellow Spanish opponent. Barcelona will go up against the winner of the matchup between Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid.

Because Atleti defeated Tottenham by a score of 5–2 in the first leg, Barca can reasonably expect their next opponent in the UEFA Champions League to be Diego Simeone’s side. However, anything can happen, so the Spurs can’t be ruled out.

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Barcelona’s path to UCL final

If Barcelona are serious about conquering their sixth UEFA Champions League title, then they must get past the best clubs in European soccer. In the quarterfinals, the Catalan side will face Atletico Madrid/Tottenham.

Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal at St James’ Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, England

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If Barcelona move on to the semifinals, then their next opponent would be the winner of the QF matchup between Arsenal and Sporting CP. A potential showdown against Real Madrid would have to wait until the final, as “Los Merengues” are on the other end of the bracket.

Why did Barcelona sub off Joan Garcia for Szczesny vs Newcastle in Champions League?

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Barcelona’s UCL record against Atletico

Barcelona will take on a familiar opponent in the quarterfinals. If Barca go up against Atletico Madrid, the Catalan side will look to turn around its head-to-head record against the Madrid club.

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Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have faced each other four times in the UEFA Champions League. Barca have won once, drawn another, and lost twice to Atleti. Both times the two clubs met came in the quarterfinal stage, and Atletico advanced on both occasions (2013–14 and 2015–16).

As a fun fact, Atletico went on to lose to Real Madrid in the final both times. In the 2025–26 UCL, the two Madrid-based clubs could meet in the final as well.

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