# 2015–16 UEFA Champions League knockout phase
The 2015–16 [UEFA Champions League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-champions-league) knockout phase was the single-elimination stage of the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League, running from the round of 16 in February 2016 to the final on 28 May 2016, in which Real Madrid beat city rivals [Atlético Madrid](https://www.edgepedia.org/atletico-madrid) 1-1 (5-3 on penalties) to win an 11th European Cup.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e947ece78ee-5b5430d33ddc-1000--uefa-champions-league-final-as-it-happened/) It was the second all-Madrid final in three seasons.[2](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0238-0f842c86820b-d892b5b5bd84-1000/2015_16_report_of_the_president_and_executive_committee_-_uefa_administration_report.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final | Real Madrid 1-1 Atlético Madrid (a.e.t., 5-3 on penalties), 28 May 2016, San Siro, Milan[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e947ece78ee-5b5430d33ddc-1000--uefa-champions-league-final-as-it-happened/) • [3](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0224-0f842ac9bf08-281f7e5c371c-1000/first_division_clubs_in_europe_2015_16.pdf) |
| Winner | Real Madrid's 11th European Cup[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e947ece78ee-5b5430d33ddc-1000--uefa-champions-league-final-as-it-happened/) |
| Round of 16 draw | 14 December 2015, Nyon; group winners and runners-up in separate pots, no same group or association, and no Russia-Ukraine pairing[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0222-0e90ff2c27b1-45148301700e-1000--uefa-champions-league-round-of-16-draw/) |
| First goalless tie | Atlético beat PSV Eindhoven 8-7 on penalties after the first goalless knockout tie in UEFA Champions League history[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/) |
| Semi-final deciders | Atlético eliminated Bayern München on the away goals rule; Real Madrid beat Manchester City 1-0 on aggregate[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/) • [6](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e943d99a8b9-3d86fb02cc72-1000--madrid-edge-past-city-to-reach-final/) |
| Top scorer | Cristiano Ronaldo, 16 goals, one short of his 2013/14 record, and 93 all-time in the competition[2](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0238-0f842c86820b-d892b5b5bd84-1000/2015_16_report_of_the_president_and_executive_committee_-_uefa_administration_report.pdf) |
| Tactical note | In the knockout phase, 15 games produced only four victories (27%) for the teams who had more of the ball[7](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0238-0f842c767dd6-be17d162e6fd-1000/the_technician_2016_17.pdf) |
## Format and draw
The knockout phase began with a round of 16 contested over two legs, followed by open two-legged quarter-finals and semi-finals and a single final. The round of 16 draw was held at 12.00CET on 14 December 2015 in Nyon, with two seeding pots, one of group winners and one of runners-up. No team could meet a club from its own group or its own national association, and, by a UEFA Executive Committee decision, teams from Russia and Ukraine could not be drawn together. Seeded group winners played the first legs away, on 16/17 and 23/24 February, with returns on 8/9 and 15/16 March; the quarter-final draw followed on 18 March and the semi-final draw on 15 April.[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0222-0e90ff2c27b1-45148301700e-1000--uefa-champions-league-round-of-16-draw/)
The group winners were Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, Atlético Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona (holders), Bayern München, Chelsea, and Zenit; the runners-up were Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, Juventus, Roma, Arsenal, Dynamo Kyiv, and Gent.[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0222-0e90ff2c27b1-45148301700e-1000--uefa-champions-league-round-of-16-draw/) The knockout stage had a wider geographical spread than the previous season, with clubs from ten national associations in play compared with eight in 2014/15, and KAA Gent appearing in the knockout phase for the first time.[8](https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/uefaorg/General/02/40/05/13/2400513_DOWNLOAD.pdf)
## Round of 16
Several ties produced firsts and comebacks. Wolfsburg completed a 4-2 aggregate win against Gent, with [André Schürrle](https://www.edgepedia.org/andre-schurrle) scoring the only goal of the second leg, and reached their first ever quarter-final.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/) Real Madrid were comfortable 2-0 winners in both legs against Roma.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/) Paris saw off Chelsea 2-1 in both legs, with [Zlatan Ibrahimović](https://www.edgepedia.org/zlatan-ibrahimovic) on target on each occasion, and Manchester City beat Dynamo Kyiv 3-1 away before a goalless home draw.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/)
**Two ties went to the wire.** Atlético and [PSV Eindhoven](https://www.edgepedia.org/psv-eindhoven) remained goalless over two legs, the first-ever UEFA Champions League knockout tie to do so, before Atlético triumphed in a tense 16-penalty shoot-out, 8-7.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/) • [2](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0238-0f842c86820b-d892b5b5bd84-1000/2015_16_report_of_the_president_and_executive_committee_-_uefa_administration_report.pdf) Benfica, level with Zenit and heading for extra time, struck twice in the final five minutes in Russia to progress 3-1 on aggregate.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/) Bayern came from 2-0 down at home against Juventus to force extra time in the return, winning 4-2 on the night and 6-4 on aggregate.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/) Barcelona's trio of [Lionel Messi](https://www.edgepedia.org/lionel-messi), Neymar, and [Luis Suárez](https://www.edgepedia.org/luis-suarez) all scored in the return against Arsenal, who went out 5-1 on aggregate.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/)
## Quarter-finals
The quarter-finals paired Real Madrid with [Wolfsburg](https://www.edgepedia.org/wolfsburg), Bayern with Benfica, Atlético with Barcelona, and Manchester City with Paris. Trailing 2-0 from the away leg, Real Madrid won their return 3-0 through a [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://www.edgepedia.org/cristiano-ronaldo) hat-trick.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/) Bayern beat Benfica 1-0 at home in the first leg, [Arturo Vidal](https://www.edgepedia.org/arturo-vidal) scoring the only goal, and drew the return 2-2 to progress 3-2 overall.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/) Atlético overcame a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Barcelona by winning the return 2-0, with both goals from Antoine Griezmann.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/) Kevin De Bruyne scored the only goal of the return as Manchester City beat Paris 1-0 to complete a 3-2 aggregate progression.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/)
## Semi-finals
Atlético took a 1-0 first-leg lead over Bayern thanks to a sensational winner from Saúl Ñíguez, and Griezmann's away goal proved critical as Atlético edged the tie on away goals despite a 2-1 defeat in Germany.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/) The away goals rule, applied when two teams scored the same number of goals on aggregate over the two matches, decided the winner in Atlético's favor.[9](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/027d-17172d2190e2-03070c1a3001-1000--do-away-goals-count-double-in-the-champions-league-europa-/)
Real Madrid and Manchester City drew 0-0 in the first leg, and a single second-leg own goal was sufficient for Real Madrid to reach the final, their 14th.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/) • [6](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e943d99a8b9-3d86fb02cc72-1000--madrid-edge-past-city-to-reach-final/) Goalkeeper Keylor Navas finished the campaign without conceding a goal at the Santiago Bernabéu across his six appearances.[6](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e943d99a8b9-3d86fb02cc72-1000--madrid-edge-past-city-to-reach-final/)
## Final
[Sergio Ramos](https://www.edgepedia.org/sergio-ramos) gave Real Madrid a 15th-minute lead in the final at [San Siro](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-siro), Milan, and [Yannick Carrasco](https://www.edgepedia.org/yannick-carrasco) forced extra time with a 79th-minute equalizer for Atlético. After a 1-1 draw, Cristiano Ronaldo tucked in the decisive penalty as Real Madrid won the shoot-out 5-3, lifting the trophy for the 11th time.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/) • [1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e947ece78ee-5b5430d33ddc-1000--uefa-champions-league-final-as-it-happened/)
## Scoring and tactical context
Cristiano Ronaldo led the scoring charts for the fourth consecutive season on 16 goals, just one fewer than the record he established in 2013/14, and with 93 career goals stood first on the competition's all-time list.[2](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0238-0f842c86820b-d892b5b5bd84-1000/2015_16_report_of_the_president_and_executive_committee_-_uefa_administration_report.pdf) Across the whole season, 347 goals were scored in 250 matches, with Ronaldo on 16, [Robert Lewandowski](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-lewandowski) on 9, and [Thomas Müller](https://www.edgepedia.org/thomas-muller) on 8; Atlético's Gabi, Griezmann, and Saúl Ñíguez each made 13 appearances, the most.[10](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2016/)
UEFA's technical reporting of the season found that possession mattered less than penetration. In the knockout phase, 15 games produced only four victories (27%) for the teams who had more of the ball, and the season suggested that top teams were comfortable with the ball and without it.[7](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0238-0f842c767dd6-be17d162e6fd-1000/the_technician_2016_17.pdf) The coaches' panel also recorded formation changes for the knockout stage: Rui Vitória's Benfica, who had previously favored a 4-4-2 setup, moved to a 4-2-3-1 in home fixtures against Zenit and Bayern München.[11](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0231-0e94e1cc6fe3-a241227ed77b-1000--champions-league-technical-report-1-how-4-3-3-overtook-4-/)
## References
1. [UEFA Champions League final as it happened, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e947ece78ee-5b5430d33ddc-1000--uefa-champions-league-final-as-it-happened/)
2. [2015/16 Report of the President and Executive Committee, UEFA Administration Report](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0238-0f842c86820b-d892b5b5bd84-1000/2015_16_report_of_the_president_and_executive_committee_-_uefa_administration_report.pdf)
3. [First division clubs in Europe 2015/16, UEFA](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0224-0f842ac9bf08-281f7e5c371c-1000/first_division_clubs_in_europe_2015_16.pdf)
4. [UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0222-0e90ff2c27b1-45148301700e-1000--uefa-champions-league-round-of-16-draw/)
5. [The story of the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e9479aa731b-6e74c7d1a64f-1000--the-story-of-the-2015-16-uefa-champions-league/)
6. [Madrid edge past City to reach final, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e943d99a8b9-3d86fb02cc72-1000--madrid-edge-past-city-to-reach-final/)
7. [The Technician 2016/17, UEFA Direct, October 2016](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0238-0f842c767dd6-be17d162e6fd-1000/the_technician_2016_17.pdf)
8. [UEFA Champions League Technical Report 2015/16](https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/uefaorg/General/02/40/05/13/2400513_DOWNLOAD.pdf)
9. [Do away goals count double in the Champions League?, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/027d-17172d2190e2-03070c1a3001-1000--do-away-goals-count-double-in-the-champions-league-europa-/)
10. [Season 2015/16, UEFA Champions League, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2016/)
11. [Champions League technical report 1: How 4-3-3 overtook 4-2-3-1, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0231-0e94e1cc6fe3-a241227ed77b-1000--champions-league-technical-report-1-how-4-3-3-overtook-4-)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football competitions and records › Competitions and recurring events › UEFA competitions › UEFA club competitions › European Cup and UEFA Champions League*
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