Top 10 clubs with most wins in UCL Round of 16

These teams have been successful in this stage of the competition.

The UEFA Champions League remains at the helm of European club football competition and it is the most elusive trophy for the clubs to get their hands on. Many clubs over the years have delivered exasperating performances but only a few have managed to keep the consistency intact at the highest level. The UCL Round of 16 may be referred to as the first stage of the knockouts, but renowned clubs have made their names after clinching impressive performances in this fixture.

Let’s have a look at the top 10 clubs that have the most wins in the UCL Round of 16 since 1992-93. (stats via Transfermarkt)

10. Manchester United (9 wins)

Manchester United were at the prime of European football for quite a few years and have made the most out of their ventures once they progressed through the Round of 16. Winners in 1968, 1999 and 2008 respectively, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men recorded nine wins in this stage of the competition while he was at the helm. Although they have not been clinical in recent years, Manchester United are still trying to claw their way back to glory.

9. Paris Saint-Germain (10 wins)

Another team to have built a name for itself in recent years are the giants from France. Finalists of the 2020 UEFA Champions League, the likes of Neymar and Mbappe could not bring the trophy to Paris. A solitary Kingsley Coman goal proved to be the winner for Bayern Munich. They lost out to Real Madrid last season in the Round of 16 after a late comeback by the Los Blancos at Bernabeu. They managed to progress through to the quarterfinals consecutively from 2013 to 2016.

8. Manchester City (11 wins)

A force to reckon with nowadays, they have been at the top of European football for quite a few years now. Although they managed to make it to the final of 2021/22 Champions League final. They lost out by a slender margin of 1-0 to English rivals, Chelsea. A regular in the competition nowadays, it is very unlikely that people will count them out of the quarterfinals stage given the calibre they have in their ranks. They have made it past the Round of 16 for four consecutive seasons now since 2018-19.

7. Arsenal (11 wins)

Arsenal were a regular in the Champions League until 2016-17 and have fallen short of steam since then. One-time runner-up in 2006, they have not been able to win this prized trophy ever in their history. They have had some notable performances during the span of 2000-2010 in which they managed 11 wins in this particular stage of the competition. The last time they made it to the quarterfinals of the competition was way back in the 2009-10 campaign. They then defeated Porto by a hefty margin of 6-2 on aggregate. Losses against the likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona, AS Monaco and others since 2010 have kept them out of progressing to the next stage of the competition to date.

6. Liverpool (12 wins)

The Kops have slowly made their way to the top of European football after having bits and phases during 2010-2017. Finalists of 2018, 2019 and 2022, they won the trophy for the sixth time in their history by beating English rivals Tottenham Hotspur in 2019. Although they fell short against Real Madrid in both the finals of 2018 and 2022, they will be rooting to exact revenge in the second leg away at the Bernabeu after their 5-2 loss at home in the 1st leg of the Round of 16 of 2023 UEFA Champions League meant that they could not defeat the Los Blancos in this competition since 2014. A regular in the competition during the 2000s and finalists on two occasions, they registered 12 wins throughout their history in this stage of the competition.

5. Juventus (12 wins)

A key reason why Juventus is on this list is that they have performed consistently well in this stage of the competition but have had little to show for it over the years. Although the Champions League has seen them tumble a hefty 10 times in the Round of 16, they have managed to win 12 times too in this stage of the competition in which they onto win the trophy twice in their history. Finalists of the 2015 UEFA Champions League, they were humbled by a resurgent Barcelona side by 3-1 which had the ranks of Messi, Neymar and Suarez in them. The last time they succeeded in this competition was way back in 1996 and have been waiting to remove the curse since then.

4. Chelsea (12 wins)

Chelsea succumbed to a narrow 1-0 defeat against German opponents Borussia Dortmund in their recent venture in the 1st leg of the Round of 16 of the UCL 2022-23. They will be looking to overturn the deficit as they have managed to do the unthinkable over the years. A regular in the competition almost, they have had their fair share of results at this stage of the competition.

Remember the night they went to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona (back then Stadio San Paolo), and faced a crushing 3-1 defeat against Napoli? Yes, they went on to win the tie by forcing a 4-1 win in the reverse fixture and eventually went on to win the competition for the first time in their history in 2012. Holders of this trophy twice, they also made it to the final of the 2008 Champions League but were taken aback after a loss in a penalty shootout against Manchester United.

3. Real Madrid (20 wins)

The 14-time winners of this competition and the unparalleled kings of Europe stand on 3rd in the list with 20 wins at this stage of the competition. Their most recent one was a 5-2 mauling of Liverpool at Anfield in the first leg of the UCL 2022-23. Winners of 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022 in recent years, the last time they bowed out at this stage of the competition was against Manchester City in 2020 who sent shock waves through Europe as the rise of a new powerhouse seemed imminent. Though Real Madrid and the Champions League is a different love story in itself. We are already aware of it. Although they could not progress to the quarterfinals from 2005 to 2009 consecutively. Their run of form in this stage of this competition has been stable enough which provides them all the glory in club football above others.

2. Barcelona (21 wins)

Probably the most consistent club since the inception of the UEFA Champions League and also with second-most wins in the Round of 16. Barcelona have managed to win 21 times at this stage of the competition. Even though their team has been blessed by the likes of Messi, Ronaldinho, Neymar and others. They have hardly faltered at this stage of the competition which makes them a European elite. Five times winner of this competition, the last time they bowed out at this stage of the competition was back in 2021. They have consistently made it past this stage for a decade from 2009 to 2020. This makes their numbers look so great.

1. Bayern Munich (23 wins)

The European ball-wrecking machine, can you imagine a UEFA Champions League quarter-final without this team taking place in it? Bayern Munich top the list of most wins in the UCL Round of 16. The Bavarians had yet another memorable fixture last week in the Round of 16. Kingsley Coman’s goal proved to be the winner against PSG in the first leg. Six times winners of this competition have made it to the finals of the competition four times since 2009. They have won twice in that tenure. Liverpool were the only team to beat them recently in the Round of 16 in 2019. Otherwise, they have been a force to reckon with at this stage of the competition. ]

**This article was last updated on 15th March 2023.