The draws have taken place for the knockout stages of this season’s European competitions at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, and the outcome opens up good prospects for Portugal’s three teams who have made it to this phase.
Champions League
Sporting knew before the draw took place they would be facing either debutants at this level, Bodø/Glimt, or the most successful team in European football history, Real Madrid, in their last-16 tie.
Fate decided it was Bodø who will be the Lions’ opponents, with the first leg to be played in Norway on 10/11 March and the deciding match at Alvalade one week later.
Bodø/Glimt have captured the imagination of football fans all over the world by constructing a team that has competed with Europe’s giants without the aid of a huge financial benefactor, relying instead on smart recruitment and largely local talent. After initially struggling in the Champions League, the Norwegians successively beat Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan twice to reach this stage.
Sporting have only reached the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition three times before, progressing to the quarter-finals once, in 1982/83, when it was still known as the European Cup.
The Lisbon outfit have therefore never reached the last eight of the modern Champions League. Should they do so, they will face the winner of the tie between Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal, and with the English side heavy favourites it could mark a quick return to Alvalade for Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres.
As for the rest of the draw, two matchups in particular stand out: PSG v Chelsea and Real Madrid v Manchester City.
The confirmed round of 16 draw ✅#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/PVhNIIZngZ
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 27, 2026
Europa League
After qualifying directly for the round of sixteen, Porto and Braga, were today paired against Stuttgart and Ferencvaros respectively in the Europa League draw.
Braga have enjoyed a superb season in Europe, winning 10, drawing 3 and losing just one of 14 matches in 2025/26. Carlos Vicens’ team will be confident of continuing their good run after being drawn against the Hungarians.
If Braga overcome Ferencvaros, they will face with winners of the tie between Panathinaikos and Real Betis in the quarter-finals.
Porto, who have won UEFA’s second competition twice, have a more difficult task, at least theoretically. The Dragons will play Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart, who beat Celtic 4-2 on aggregate in the playoff to reach this phase.
Should Porto progress, they will play either Nottingham Forest – now coached by former Porto boss Vítor Pereira – or Midtjylland in the last eight.
The round of 16 is set ✅#UEL pic.twitter.com/YdHzqBAygZ
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 27, 2026