Arsenal to Face Bayer Leverkusen in Champions League Last 16

Arsenal will face Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. The first leg will be played at Bayer Leverkusen’s BayArena on either Tuesday, March 10 or Wednesday, March 11, with the return leg in London a week later, on either Tuesday, March 17 or Wednesday, March 18. Exact dates and kick-off times will be confirmed soon.

Leverkusen’s Road to the Last 16

Bayer Leverkusen secured their place in the last 16 after defeating Olympiacos 2-0 in the first leg of the play-off round, with a brace from Patrik Schick, followed by a 0-0 draw in the second leg. They currently sit sixth in the Bundesliga as of February 27, 2026. Bundesliga.com reports that Leverkusen is a strong contender in the competition.

Historical Context: Arsenal vs. Leverkusen

Arsenal last faced Bayer Leverkusen in the 2001/02 Champions League second group stage. The first match at the BayArena ended in a 1-1 draw, with a late goal conceded by Arsenal. But, Arsenal secured a 4-1 victory in the return fixture at Highbury, with goals from Robert Pires, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp.

Potential Path to the Final

If Arsenal overcome Bayer Leverkusen, their potential route to the final includes a quarter-final tie against either Sporting Lisbon or Bodø/Glimt. A successful quarter-final run could then lead to a semi-final match against one of Newcastle United, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, or Tottenham Hotspur.

Ticket Information

Hospitality packages for the second leg at Arsenal’s home ground are currently available. Arsenal.com is the official source for ticket information.

Bayer Leverkusen in European Competition

Bayer Leverkusen has a rich history in European football, having competed in European competitions for 31 seasons. They won the UEFA Cup in 1988 and have been runners-up in the Champions League (2002) and Europa League (2024). Wikipedia details their extensive European record, noting their first entry into the competition in the 1986–87 UEFA Cup.

Other Champions League Matchups

The Champions League last 16 draw also produced the following matchups:

• Atalanta vs. Bayern Munich
• Real Madrid vs. Manchester City
• Paris Saint-Germain vs. Chelsea
• Galatasaray vs. Liverpool
• Atlético Madrid vs. Tottenham Hotspur
• Newcastle United vs. Barcelona
• Bodø/Glimt vs. Sporting Lisbon

The draw for the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals took place on Friday, February 27 at 12pm CET.