Explore the heaviest Champions League defeats suffered by English clubs after the 2025/26 round of 16, featuring Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and more.
The English Premier League had an unprecedented six teams featuring in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League round of 16
Both Arsenal and Liverpool flexed their muscles, with the former dispatching Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates and the latter thumping Galatasaray 4-0 at Anfield to progress. The other four, meanwhile, dealt with miserable evenings.
Manchester City had a mountain to climb after they were beaten 3-0 by Real Madrid in their first leg at the Bernabeu, but an early red card for Bernardo Silva proved pivotal as they slumped to a 5-1 aggregate defeat. Spurs at least managed to show some fight in overturning their own three-goal deficit against Atletico Madrid, winning the second leg 3-2, but ultimately bowing out after a 7-5 defeat across the two legs. For Newcastle and Chelsea, however, it truly was a night to forget.
Newcastle and Chelsea Endure Miserable Evening
The Magpies looked to be pushing Barcelona all the way when they were level at 2-2 on the stroke of half-time. Then, Lamine Yamal slotted home a penalty, and the floodgates opened. The Toon Army conceded four unanswered second-half goals to lose 7-2 at the Camp Nou, consigning them to an 8-3 aggregate defeat after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Chelsea, meanwhile, had an even worse evening. They were beaten 5-2 by defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the home leg, and the Parisians would go on to win the second leg 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, securing an 8-2 victory across the two legs.
But despite the mass exodus by English clubs from this year Champions League, online betting sites still make one of the country two remaining teams the favorite to go all the way. That, of course, is current Premier League leaders Arsenal, who are priced at 9/4 to lift the trophy for the first time, with Bayern Munich just behind at 10/3. For those unfamiliar with just how close together those two prices are, a parlay calculator shows that a £10 bet on the Gunners would pay £22.50 in winnings, as opposed to £33.33 on the Bavarians.
The future may well look bright in North London and indeed on Merseyside, but for the rest of England representatives, the recent round of 16 is one to forget... and forget quickly. But where do these losses rank in terms of the Premier League all-time heaviest Champions League two-legged defeats? Let us take a look.
Bayern Munich 10-2 Arsenal - 2016/17
The heaviest defeat any English side has ever suffered in the Champions League came nine years ago, when a much different-looking Arsenal team faced off against German giants Bayern Munich in the round of 16. Arsene Wenger managed the Gunners, but the Frenchman had built a squad filled with technically proficient players who had little to no fight in them. That was on full display against Carlo Ancelotti men as the Bavarians ran riot across two legs.
Things looked promising at halftime in the first leg in Munich, with the score sitting at 1-1 after Alexis Sanchez strike cancelled out Arjen Robben stunning opener. Then, the Gunners fell apart. Three goals in ten second-half minutes from Robert Lewandowski and Thiago Alcantara two put the tie to bed. Thomas Mueller added another late on, securing a 5-1 first-leg victory. And things would get even worse.
Theo Walcott gave Arsenal an early lead 20 minutes into the return leg at the Emirates. But then, once again, Arsenal crumbled. Second-half goals from Lewandowski, Robben,
Douglas Costa, and an Arturo Vidal brace secured another 5-1 victory, completing a 10-2 aggregate drubbing.
Bayern Munich 7-1 Chelsea - 2019/20
Bayern Munich have long been a thorn in the side of England finest. Three years on from that drubbing of the Gunners, Bayern headed to London for another Round of 16 tie, this time against Chelsea. And once again, they would leave Old Blighty with an almighty victory racked up.
The tie was as good as over after the first leg at Stamford Bridge after a second-half brace from former Arsenal youngster Serge Gnabry, as well as a late Lewandowski strike, sealed a 3-0 win. In the reverse fixture in Munich, Bayern would help themselves to plenty more goals. Lewa opened the scoring after just ten minutes, before Ivan Perišić added a second before halftime. Tammy Abraham would pull a goal back for the Blues, but second-half goals from Corentin Tolisso and Lewandowski again completed a 7-1 aggregate demolition.
Real Madrid 5-0 Tottenham Hotspur - 2010/11
Back in 2011, Spurs had not yet become the calamity they are today. In fact, they were just starting their journey to become one of English football biggest teams, with Harry Redknapp securing Champions League qualification for the first time. They impressed throughout the tournament, even eliminating AC Milan in the round of 16, only to face a Cristiano Ronaldo-powered Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, showing just how far they were from the world elite.
Los Blancos ran riot in the first leg in the Bernabeu, winning 4-0 thanks to a brace from former Arsenal man Emmanuel Adebayor. The Spanish giants would win the second leg at White Hart Lane, with Ronaldo netting the only goal of the game.
