There are some potential NIGHTMARE draws for the English clubs 😳👀 Newcastle’s path, with the extra play-off round, has been mapped out too

The Champions League has reached a powerful moment again, and across Europe the feeling is clear. The league phase of the 2025–26 Champions League is finally over, and now the real fear, excitement, and dreaming begins. For English football, this season has already felt special. Six Premier League clubs entered Europe’s biggest competition, and all six are still alive. That alone says a lot about the strength, ambition, and hunger coming from England right now.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United have all survived the long league phase. Some did it with style. Some struggled. Some flirted with disaster. But now, as January comes to an end, every one of them can still see the Champions League trophy shining in the distance. The only question left is who will block their path.

The final night of the league phase delivered drama across the continent. Goals flew in. Big teams fell. Smaller clubs made history. Scorelines from every corner of Europe told different stories, but they all led to the same destination: the knockout rounds. Liverpool crushed Qarabag. Manchester City did just enough. Arsenal showed calm authority. Spurs held their nerve. Chelsea survived. And Newcastle, while not perfect, gave themselves one last chance.

Now the draw waits, and with it comes fear. In the Champions League, there are no easy games anymore. Every possible opponent carries danger, history, and belief. For the English clubs, the list of possible rivals is now clearer, and it includes some names that make even the strongest squads pause.

Liverpool and Tottenham were among the first English teams to secure direct qualification for the round of 16. Both clubs finished their league phase work early, and because of their final positions, they now share the same group of potential opponents. On paper, some fans might call it manageable. In reality, it is anything but.

Atletico Madrid are waiting, and everyone knows what that means. Diego Simeone’s team do not care about beauty or possession. They care about suffering, defending, and striking at the perfect moment. Over two legs, Atletico can break the spirit of even the best teams. Juventus are also there, a club rebuilding its European identity but still dangerous, still proud, and still experienced in knockout football. Club Brugge might not carry the same global name, but they have already shown in this competition that they fear no one. Galatasaray, backed by one of the loudest home crowds in world football, offer chaos, heat, and madness.

For Liverpool, this comes at a strange time. Arne Slot is under pressure in the Premier League. Results have not matched expectations. Injuries and inconsistency have raised questions. But in Europe, Liverpool often become something else. Anfield still scares opponents. The badge still carries weight. Slot knows that a strong Champions League run could change the mood around his project completely.

Tottenham’s situation feels even heavier. Thomas Frank arrived with hope and bold ideas, but league struggles have made every European night feel like a test of survival. Spurs fans want belief. They want proof that this team belongs at the top level. A tough draw could crush confidence, but a brave performance could also ignite something powerful. In Europe, Spurs are still chasing identity, still trying to write their own story.

Arsenal stand in a different place altogether. Mikel Arteta’s team did not just qualify, they dominated. Finishing as league phase winners sent a message across Europe. Arsenal are no longer learning. They are no longer waiting. They are here to compete, and they believe this could be their year.

But belief does not protect you from danger. Arsenal’s possible opponents include Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Atalanta, and Olympiacos. Each of those teams brings a unique threat. Dortmund are young, fast, and fearless, a club that lives for Champions League nights. Leverkusen, under their brilliant coach, play fearless attacking football and have already proven they can outthink elite teams. Atalanta are relentless, physical, and tactically brave. Olympiacos, meanwhile, turn home games into war zones.

Arteta knows that winning the league phase gives advantage, but not safety. One bad night, one red card, one mistake, and everything can collapse. Arsenal fans feel excitement mixed with fear. They know how close they have come before. They also know how painful Europe can be.

Manchester City enter the knockout stage with a strange feeling around them. Pep Guardiola’s side narrowly avoided the play-off places with a vital win on the final matchday. For a club used to dominance, that alone feels like a warning sign. Injuries, fatigue, and the weight of constant expectation have taken their toll.

Now City face a list of possible opponents that could turn this season into a nightmare. Real Madrid are there, waiting like a familiar ghost. Every time City meet Madrid in Europe, history, drama, and heartbreak follow. Inter Milan are also in the mix, a team built for knockout football, disciplined, physical, and mentally strong. Bodo/Glimt and Benfica complete the list, and while some might see them as easier options, Guardiola knows better. Underestimating anyone in Europe is the fastest way to humiliation.

City fans feel nervous in a way they haven’t for years. They have won everything. They have conquered England. But Europe still demands perfection. One weak moment, and even the best team in the world can fall.

Chelsea’s situation depends on the play-off round, and that adds another layer of tension. Their possible opponents include Newcastle, Monaco, Qarabag, and the reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain. The idea of facing PSG over two legs is enough to make any fan uneasy. Star power, speed, and individual brilliance define the French champions, and Chelsea are still building consistency.

At the same time, facing Newcastle would create an all-English battle filled with emotion and pressure. Monaco and Qarabag bring different dangers, especially away from home. Chelsea fans know their team is capable of brilliance, but also capable of collapse. Europe exposes everything.

Then there is Newcastle United, the only English club that did not finish in the top eight. Eddie Howe’s side ended the league phase in 12th place, which means they must survive a play-off tie just to reach the round of 16. For a club still growing into its European identity, this feels like a huge test.

Newcastle’s performances in the league phase were impressive at times. Big wins. Brave football. Loud nights at St James’ Park. But inconsistency cost them automatic qualification. Now they face either AS Monaco or Qarabag in a two-legged play-off. Both teams are dangerous in different ways. Monaco bring technical quality and speed. Qarabag bring discipline, hunger, and the belief that they have nothing to lose.

Eddie Howe knows this is about mentality as much as tactics. One bad half could end Newcastle’s European dream. One strong performance could push them into the elite circle. The draw in Nyon will decide everything.

As the football world waits for Friday, January 30, the tension grows. Fans argue online. Pundits predict disasters. Players pretend not to care while secretly checking every possible scenario. This is what makes the Champions League special. Not just the goals, but the fear before the whistle.

English football has dominated this season so far, but dominance means nothing if you cannot survive the knockouts. History is full of English teams falling just when they believed the most. The draw will not decide the winner, but it will shape the journey.

Every club believes. Every club fears. And somewhere in Europe, the Champions League trophy waits patiently, knowing that only one team will be strong enough, brave enough, and lucky enough to lift it when the noise finally stops.