Barcelona's coach comments on the Champions League round of 16 draw result

Hansi Flick expressed prudence regarding the Champions League round of 16 draw result. His Barcelona side is set to meet Newcastle.

The 2025/26 Champions League round of 16 draw produced several notable matchups. Real Madrid will once again clash with Manchester City, marking the fifth time the two teams have met in the knockout stages in the last five seasons, with the Spanish side holding a slight edge. Defending champions PSG will take on Chelsea in a rematch of last summer's Club World Cup final.

Barcelona will meet Newcastle, while Arsenal face Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool take on Galatasaray. Tottenham will battle Atletico Madrid. In the remaining ties, Bodo/Glimt, after shocking Inter, will play Sporting Lisbon, and Bayern Munich will confront Atalanta. The top eight teams from the league phase will host the second leg. The first legs are scheduled for March 10-11, with the return legs on March 17-18.

Barcelona's coach, Hansi Flick, recently spoke about the draw outcome. A reporter asked Flick: "Regarding the Champions League draw, are you pleased to have avoided PSG?".

The Barcelona coach stated: "Every match is important; Newcastle is an excellent team. We saw that when we played at their stadium, and you must respect your opponent. Everyone wants to reach the final."

When asked about the prospect of reaching the final to face Chelsea or Bayern while Real Madrid might be eliminated, Flick replied: "But do you also know who we could face? All teams at this stage are of very high quality; if we advance, we could meet Tottenham or Atletico. It's the same thing—we must perform at our absolute best level."