What to know about Champions League Round of 16

Silliest penalty of all time? Perhaps. Aston Villa will undoubtedly still be smarting from that debacle. It enters this away match as the clear favorite, and will hope to make better memories in Belgium than it did during its last go-round.

Real Madrid (Spain) vs. Atletico de Madrid (Spain) | 3 p.m. ET

This is the clear headliner of the Round of 16. 

Real and Atletico are separated by just two points in the Spanish league standings, so this should be an excellent match. The teams have already met twice in La Liga this season, with both matches ending in 1-1 draws.

As imperious as Real Madrid can be at home at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Atletico seems to have the edge.

Much has been written about the team's "dark arts" — and yes, Atletico is infamous for its defensive gamesmanship — but in 2025, it has found a way to balance all of that with fabulous offensive play.

Atletico finished the league phase in fifth with a +8 goal differential. It's capable of taking out just about anyone, up to and including its famous cross-city rival. 

PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) vs. Arsenal (England) | 3 p.m. ET

For the casual viewer, this match — which has "comfortable Arsenal victory" written all over it — seems like a mismatch. But don't be fooled. PSV is a devilishly tricky matchup for Arsenal —  one that could end its Champions League journey early. 

PSV, the home team, is the kind of side that wins 4-3 instead of 2-0. It has no problem scoring, but it's likely to concede a few goals, too. Arsenal, meanwhile, struggles to score. It managed just two goals in its past three Premier League games, both against relegation-threatened Leicester City. 

PSV has a massive tactical advantage in this match. Plus, it took down Liverpool and Juventus in quick succession before drawing Arsenal. Don't underestimate PSV.

Borussia Dortmund (Germany) vs. LOSC Lille (France) | 3 p.m. ET

Nobody in Europe wants to play an away game against Dortmund. The team's home park, the Westfalenstadion, has one of the more raucous and intimidating atmospheres on the continent. That fierce home support is a big part of how Dortmund found its way to the Champions League final last season.

After a rough start to 2024-25, Dortmund is going to need every ounce of energy and support it can get. It struggled in the Champions League group phase, losing to Bologna, Barcelona and Real Madrid, and it's in 10th in the Bundesliga — an embarrassing drop-off for a team that regularly competes for the title. 

By contrast, France's Lille is on the rise. It shocked the continent by finishing in the league phase in the top eight, hammering Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid along the way. It enters this match with all of the momentum ... provided it can hold its own against Dortmund's (in)famous fans.