Chelsea's Potential Champions League Round of 16 Opponents Revealed
During Chelsea's European conquests in 2012 and 2021, mid-season coaching switches played pivotal roles in securing those victories.
Roberto Di Matteo emerged as the Blues' unexpected hero during their path to Munich, while Thomas Tuchel, who had reached the Champions League final the previous campaign, orchestrated a remarkable yet haunting journey to success with minimal crowd support.
Chelsea, last season's Conference League champions, possess this special ability, particularly when they're considered underdogs. Under Liam Rosenior's guidance, the west London club isn't viewed as genuine title contenders for this year's Champions League, but this underdog status might make them even more formidable.
A dramatic second-half comeback in Naples during the final league phase matchday ensured they claimed sixth position, and here are their potential round of 16 opponents.
Who Could Chelsea Face in the Champions League Last 16?
Who Could Chelsea Face in the Champions League Last 16?
For most of their encounter against Napoli, Chelsea were positioned outside the top eight and heading toward a playoff berth. Nevertheless, João Pedro's spectacular second-half double elevated Rosenior's team to sixth place.
Consequently, they'll be matched with Barcelona, who secured fifth position, and will remain on the opposite bracket from the La Liga titleholders throughout the elimination rounds.
The established bracket format matches sixth and seventh against 11th/12th and 21st/22nd positions. This means Chelsea could encounter either Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle United, Monaco or Qarabag in the round of 16.
During Friday's playoff draw, PSG and Newcastle will face either Monaco or Qarabağ. The victors from those matchups will progress to the last 16, where they'll meet either Chelsea or Barcelona. The Blues would naturally prefer to avoid the defending champions, nor would they relish a challenging away fixture at St. James' Park under floodlights.
Chelsea's Potential Champions League Last 16 Opponents
Chelsea's Potential Champions League Last 16 Opponents
When is the Champions League Round of 16?
When is the Champions League Round of 16?
Chelsea have bypassed the playoffs and won't return to Champions League action until March.
The round of 16 opening legs are scheduled for March 10 and 11, with the return legs set for the subsequent week. These matches will occur on March 17 and 18.