It has been a brutal week for English football on the European stage. All six Premier League clubs in the Champions League last 16 failed to win their first legs, leaving the nation’s hopes of a strong showing in the quarter-finals hanging by a thread. Three of those clubs face near-impossible tasks, while even the two sides who drew their first legs cannot afford to slip up.
The Mission Impossible Trio
Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur each face three-goal deficits, and the mountain they must climb could scarcely be steeper.
At the Etihad, Pep Guardiola’s City must overturn a 3-0 loss to Real Madrid — a deficit that no team in 36 previous attempts has managed to reverse against the Spanish giants. The scoreline at the Bernabeu flattered Madrid somewhat; City dominated possession and completed more than double the passes Real managed in the opponent’s half, yet lacked cutting edge when it mattered most. Erling Haaland, the most feared striker in world football, finished the game with an expected goals value of zero. Guardiola must find a way to inject urgency and invention into his attack — with Rayan Cherki potentially the creative spark to unlock things behind Haaland — if City are to produce one of the great European comebacks.
Chelsea, meanwhile, must erase a 5-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The Blues actually created a respectable number of chances in Paris, fashioning four big opportunities to their opponents’ two, yet squandered them all. Cole Palmer, their most gifted attacker, was peripheral on the night and has managed just one goal in his last five games. He needs to rediscover his best form — and quickly. The task is made harder by the fact that PSG arrive at Stamford Bridge as defending champions, hungry and rested after Ligue 1 organisers granted them a free weekend.
Tottenham face a similarly daunting challenge against Atlético Madrid. Spurs were undone by individual errors in the Spanish capital, losing 5-2 in a tie that could easily have been more comfortable. To progress, they need to score at least four goals while keeping a clean sheet — a near-perfect performance, in other words, from a side short on confidence. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s errors have been a theme in recent weeks, and with Atlético’s quality on the counter, the margin for further mistakes is zero.
Liverpool’s Anfield Test
Liverpool’s task is more achievable, but still far from straightforward. Arne Slot’s side lost 1-0 in Istanbul against Galatasaray and must now produce the kind of intense, complete performance that has eluded them for much of the season. Jamie Carragher’s observation that there has barely been a single game all season where Liverpool have been dominant and watertight at the back rings uncomfortably true. The Reds must score at least once, keep the Turkish champions from adding to their advantage, and — crucially — avoid conceding a late goal, something that has cost them dearly on several occasions this campaign.
The noise and atmosphere of Anfield under the lights in a Champions League knockout tie remains one of football’s most intimidating environments. If Liverpool can feed off that energy from the first whistle, they have the squad to get the job done. But they cannot afford to sleepwalk through any part of the 90 minutes.
The Tied Ties: Arsenal and Newcastle
Arsenal and Newcastle at least go into their second legs with the aggregate scores level, giving them genuine control over their own destiny — though neither can afford to be complacent.
Arsenal drew 1-1 at Bayer Leverkusen and host the Germans on Tuesday. Mikel Arteta’s main dilemma is selecting the right attacking combinations. Noni Madueke impressed off the bench in the first leg, while Viktor Gyokeres staked a claim for a starting spot after coming off the bench to score against Everton at the weekend. The question of whether Kai Havertz or Gyokeres leads the line, and what that means for Bukayo Saka’s role, is one Arteta must resolve carefully — with a Carabao Cup final just around the corner adding further reason to avoid extra time and unnecessary fatigue.
Newcastle United, meanwhile, travel to the Spotify Camp Nou to face Barcelona knowing a 1-1 draw from the first leg gives them every chance of a historic quarter-final berth. The Magpies were desperately unlucky to concede a stoppage-time penalty at St James’ Park, but the aggregate parity means the tie remains entirely open. Anthony Gordon’s pace on the counter-attack will be vital against Barcelona’s aggressive defensive line, and the energy of Joelinton — who has been carefully managed ahead of this fixture — alongside Sandro Tonali in midfield could prove the key to disrupting the Catalans’ rhythm. Barcelona are formidable at home, having lost only once there this season, but Eddie Howe’s side have shown all year that they can compete with the best in Europe.
The Bigger Picture
The collective failure of English clubs in the first legs has prompted uncomfortable questions about the Premier League’s genuine standing among Europe’s elite this season. It would be historic and remarkable if even two of these six sides manage to reach the quarter-finals. For now, supporters across England will be hoping for miracles — or at the very least, a performance or two to be proud of.
Second legs take place Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 March 2026.
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