The knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League brings together the strongest teams in European football. After an intense league phase and play-off round, the Round of 16 will decide which clubs progress to the quarter-finals of the 2025/26 competition.The ties will be played across two legs in March 2026, with the first matches taking place on 10 and 11 March, followed by the return legs on 17 and 18 March.Champions League Round of 16 – First Leg FixturesTuesday, 10 March 2026Galatasaray vs LiverpoolAtalanta vs Bayern MunichAtlético Madrid vs Tottenham HotspurNewcastle United vs BarcelonaWednesday, 11 March 2026Bayer Leverkusen vs ArsenalReal Madrid vs Manchester CityBodø/Glimt vs Sporting CPParis Saint-Germain vs ChelseaSecond Leg FixturesTuesday, 17 March 2026Liverpool vs GalatasarayBayern Munich vs AtalantaTottenham Hotspur vs Atlético MadridBarcelona vs Newcastle UnitedWednesday, 18 March 2026Arsenal vs Bayer LeverkusenManchester City vs Real MadridSporting CP vs Bodø/GlimtChelsea vs Paris Saint-GermainWhat to Expect from the Round of 16This stage features some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Manchester City and Liverpool. Several blockbuster ties headline the round, particularly the clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid, while PSG vs Chelsea and Barcelona vs Newcastle United also promise thrilling encounters.With each tie played over two legs, tactical discipline, squad depth and moments of individual brilliance will be decisive as teams chase a place in the quarter-finals.

Some footballing seasons stand above the rest, not for trophies won but for sheer goalscoring brilliance. Across eras, a handful of players have lit up entire campaigns with astonishing strike totals, setting records that have lasted decades. Here are the top 10 footballers with the most goals in a single season in history, spanning league and all-competition tallies.10. Fernando Peyroteo – 56 Goals (1945-46)Peyroteo’s incredible scoring rate saw him fire Sporting CP’s attack with 56 goals in the 1945/46 campaign, making him the tenth-highest single-season scorer in history.9. Luis Suárez – 59 Goals (2015-16)Luis Suárez enjoyed a sensational season at Barcelona, scoring 59 goals across all competitions, including a league Golden Boot-winning campaign.8. Cristiano Ronaldo – 61 Goals (2014-15)Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2014/15 season with Real Madrid brought 61 goals, showcasing his phenomenal consistency and clinical finishing at the highest level.7. Dixie Dean – 63 Goals (1927-28)English legend Dixie Dean scored 63 goals in the 1927/28 season for Everton, a scoring feat that has become part of football folklore.6. Zico – 65 Goals (1979)Brazilian icon Zico hit 65 goals in his 1979 campaign for Flamengo, demonstrating extraordinary attacking flair.4. Pelé – 66 Goals (1958)Pelé’s breakthrough season saw him score 66 goals for Santos, cementing his place as one of football’s most prolific scorers.4. Romário – 66 Goals (2000)Romário matched Pelé’s total with 66 goals in 2000 while impressing for Vasco da Gama, showcasing his clinical instincts across competitions.3. Gerd Müller – 67 Goals (1972-73)German legend Gerd Müller netted 67 goals in all competitions for Bayern Munich in the 1972/73 season, one of the most enduring records in goalscoring history.2. Lionel Messi – 73 Goals (2011-12)Lionel Messi scored an astonishing 73 goals in the 2011/12 season for Barcelona, setting a modern benchmark for single-season scoring excellence.1. Josef Bican – 76 Goals (1943-44)At the very top sits Josef Bican, whose remarkable 76-goal season remains the highest total ever recorded in a single campaign. His incredible finishing ability made him one of football’s most prolific scorers of all time.These remarkable tallies span eras, leagues and continents. Whether it’s pre-war heroes like Josef Bican or modern greats like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, these individual seasons represent the pinnacle of goalscoring achievement in football history — seasons that have stood the test of time and continue to awe fans around the world.

Football has always been a sport capable of delivering the unexpected. While traditional giants often dominate domestic leagues, history has occasionally produced extraordinary underdog triumphs that defied logic, budgets and expectations.Here are the 10 most surprising title winners in football history, ranked from 10 to 1.10. Montpellier – Ligue 1 (2011/12)Montpellier stunned French football by winning Ligue 1 ahead of heavily financed Paris Saint-Germain. Powered by a cohesive squad and standout performances, they edged one of the wealthiest clubs in Europe to claim a historic domestic crown.9. Boavista – Primeira Liga (2000/01)Boavista broke the long-standing dominance of Portugal’s “Big Three” — Benfica, Porto and Sporting — to lift the league title. Their disciplined and tactically organised side achieved one of the most unexpected successes in Portuguese football.8. Hellas Verona – Serie A (1984/85)In a Serie A era filled with global superstars, Hellas Verona shocked Italy by winning the Scudetto. Their remarkable consistency and fearless approach allowed them to outperform far wealthier and more established rivals.7. Kaiserslautern – Bundesliga (1997/98)Freshly promoted from the second division, Kaiserslautern achieved the unthinkable by winning the Bundesliga immediately after returning to the top flight. It remains one of the most astonishing title runs in European football history.6. Deportivo La Coruña – La Liga (1999/2000)Breaking the duopoly of Real Madrid and Barcelona, Deportivo claimed their first-ever La Liga title. Their triumph marked a golden era for the Galician club and surprised Spanish football at large.5. Blackburn Rovers – Premier League (1994/95)Backed by strong leadership and prolific goalscoring, Blackburn edged Manchester United to win the Premier League. Though competitive, few predicted they would overcome Sir Alex Ferguson’s dominant side.4. Nottingham Forest – First Division (1977/78)Under Brian Clough, newly promoted Nottingham Forest claimed the English league title in spectacular fashion. Their meteoric rise remains one of the most famous stories in English football history.3. Atlético Madrid – La Liga (2013/14)Competing against the financial powerhouses of Real Madrid and Barcelona, Atlético Madrid defied expectations under Diego Simeone to secure the Spanish league title with relentless defensive discipline and unity.2. Greece – UEFA European Championship (2004)Though not a domestic league title, Greece’s Euro 2004 triumph remains one of the greatest shocks in football history. Ranked outsiders before the tournament, they defeated several elite nations en route to lifting the trophy.1. Leicester City – Premier League (2015/16)Leicester City’s Premier League triumph stands as the ultimate underdog story. Starting the season as 5000-1 outsiders, Claudio Ranieri’s side delivered a fairytale campaign, outlasting traditional giants to secure one of the most improbable titles ever witnessed in professional sport.

Football is a game of skill, tactics and drama, but sometimes the most memorable moments come within the blink of an eye. The fastest goals in history showcase players who seized opportunity instantly — turning defence into fortune within mere seconds. From dazzling counterattacks to expertly-timed set pieces, these iconic strikes have earned their place in football lore.Here are the 10 fastest goals ever scored in football history.10. Bart van der Veer – 3.6 SecondsFixture: LTC vs OeverzwaluwenScore: 2-4Year: 2014In the fifth tier of Dutch football, Bart van der Veer scored in just 3.6 seconds in his final professional appearance before retirement. Striking directly from kick-off from just over the halfway line, he signed off his career in unforgettable fashion.9. Richard Wetton – 3.57 SecondsFixture: Oakwood vs LingfieldScore: 2-6Year: 2017Wetton opened the scoring in the Peter Bentley Challenge Cup with a powerful effort straight from kick-off. Clocked at 3.57 seconds, it helped set Lingfield on their way to a dominant away win.8. Colin Cowperthwaite – 3.55 SecondsFixture: Barrow vs Kettering TownScore: 4-0Year: 1979Barrow legend Colin Cowperthwaite struck after just 3.55 seconds, setting what was then recorded as the fastest goal in English football history.7. Fred – 3.17 SecondsFixture: America Mineiro vs Vila NovaScore: 1-5Year: 2003The Brazilian forward scored the fastest goal in Brazilian football history at the time, spotting the goalkeeper off his line and shooting instantly from kick-off.6. Ricardo Olivera – 2.8 SecondsFixture: Rio Negro Capital vs Soriano InteriorScore: 1-1Year: 1998Olivera found the net in just 2.8 seconds from the centre circle. His goal was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest ever scored at that time.5. Marc Burrows – 2.56 SecondsFixture: Cowes Sports Reserves vs Eastleigh ReservesScore: 5-3Year: 2004A clever kick-off routine allowed Burrows to unleash a powerful strike from just beyond halfway, securing his place in football history.4. Jack Lyons – 2.52 SecondsFixture: Rusthall vs Chatham TownScore: 5-2Year: 2023Lyons scored the fastest-ever FA Youth Cup goal, firing home directly from kick-off and catching the goalkeeper completely unaware.3. Ryan Hall – 2.31 SecondsFixture: Croydon FC vs CockfostersScore: 3-0Year: 2024Hall capitalised immediately from kick-off, spotting the goalkeeper off his line and scoring in just 2.31 seconds.2. Vuk Bakic – 2.2 SecondsFixture: GSP Polet vs FK DorcolScore: 4-1Year: 2012Bakic scored from the centre circle in a Serbian youth match, producing one of the most technically impressive goals on this list.1. Gavin Stokes – 2.1 SecondsFixture: Maryhill vs ClydebankScore: 3-0Year: 2017Gavin Stokes holds the record for the fastest goal in football history, scoring in just 2.1 seconds from the halfway line. The strike remains the quickest officially recorded goal in the game.