The draw for the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 Knockout Playoff was conducted on 30 January 2026 to determine the match pairings between the 16 teams that qualified to this stage after finishing from 9 to 24 in the 36-team League Phase table. The eight playoff winners will meet the already qualified top eight teams of the League Phase in the Round of 16, to be played in March 2026. Those teams that have finished 25th to 36th in the League Phase have been eliminated from the competition with no second chance to continue to play in Europe by parachuting down to the Europa League. All 16 teams have been paired based on their final position in the League Phase, with the seeding system ensuring higher placed team in the previous stage don’t meet early in the knockout stage. Teams finished in ninth and 10th position will face sides that have finished in the final two qualification places, 23rd and 24th, the 11th and 12th placed teams will take on those finishing in 21st and 22nd and so on. Clubs that have ended ninth to 16th in the League Phase will have the second leg of the playoffs at home. The first legs are scheduled on the 17th and 18th of February 2026, while the returning legs are to be played on the 24th and 25th of the month.
Champions League 2025-26 Knockout Playoff Draw
Benfica (League Phase Position - 24) vs Real Madrid (League Phase Position - 9)
Fresh off facing each other in a thrilling final league phase game, Benfica and Real Madrid will lock horns once again in this season’s Champions League in the knockout playoffs over two legs. Los Blancos will be seeking revenge for their 4-2 loss that prevented them from entering the Round of 16 directly, missing out by a point, whereas the Eagles will want to recreate the magical evening again in which their goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin of all people, scored a last-minute header from a free-kick to ensure his side’s survival and grabbing the final knockout playoff berth. Jose Mourinho’s side will welcome the Spanish giants at home in the Estadio da Luz once again for the first leg, while the record winners hope to win this fixture for the first time since 1965. They will hope competition’s top scorer this season, with 13 goals, Kylian Mbappe, who also scored a brace in the defeat, gets them over the line.
Bodo Glimt (League Phase Position - 23) vs Inter (League Phase Position - 10)
The fairytale team of the League Phase, Bodo Glimt, will compete in the Champions League knockout stage in their first-ever season in the competition after earning a playoff spot by finishing 23rd in the 36-team table. It is the way they did it that stole the spotlight, claiming a shock win against a side like Manchester City at home and then going on to defeat three-time finalists Atletico Madrid in the final league phase game in Spain in extraordinary fashion. The Norwegian side will now face another top European team, Inter, in the knockout playoffs, hoping for more surprises. Last edition’s finalist, the Nerazzurri, will have to play through the playoffs this time to reach the last-16, having secured a top-eight berth last time, but the Serie A leaders have the advantage of home leg in the returning fixture if the trip to Norway doesn’t go according to plan.
AS Monaco (League Phase Position - 21) vs Paris Saint-Germain (League Phase Position - 12)
An all-French clash will ensue when local rivals AS Monaco will face the competition holders, Paris Saint-Germain, in an exciting knockout playoff battle. Despite having an inconsistent form, the principality club still managed to confirm a place in the top-24 after a goalless draw against Juventus in the final league phase game, but faces a difficult tie in the form of the Ligue 1 giants. It is a little bit of a surprise to see PSG not qualifying for the Round of 16 automatically after their sensational European triumph last year, going winless in the final three League Phase games, including the 1-1 draw against Newcastle that left them out of the top eight. However, Luis Enrique’s side navigated their way from the playoffs last time in the Champions League, facing another fellow French team back then, thrashing Brest 10-0 on aggregate, giving them confidence. That being said, Monaco did beat them in the league encounter in November last year.
Qarabak FK (League Phase Position - 22) vs Newcastle United (League Phase Position - 11)
Just like Bodo Glimt, Qarabag has scripted its wonder tale this season by becoming the first-ever team from Azerbaijan to reach the Champions League knockout stages. Aside from the 6-0 hammering by Liverpool in the final league phase game, the club nicknamed ‘The Horsemen’ had a memorable campaign in the League Phase, especially at home, where they defeated Eintracht Frankfurt and also drew 2-2 with Chelsea. They will welcome another tough opposition in Newcastle United at home for the first leg of the knockout playoff, hoping to take a strong lead back at St James’s Park a week later. Meanwhile, Eddie Howe’s men secured their place in the playoffs by holding the defending champions to a 1-1 draw in the final league phase game, coming from behind, an affair they could have easily won that might have put them in the top eight. Nevertheless, the Magpies are delighted to play knockout football in the Champions League for the first time in history and have a good chance to make it to the last 16.
Galatasaray (League Phase Position - 20) vs Juventus (League Phase Position - 13)
A repeat of the 2013-14 group stage clashes between the pair in the Chaṁpions League, Turkish champions Galatasaray will fight Serie A giants Juventus in the knockout playoffs for a spot in the Round of 16. The first leg will be played in Istanbul, where Gala has remained unbeaten in this fixture, including winning the last meeting 1-0 in a snow-delayed game. Juventus have won just once against the Lions all the way back in the 2003-04 season, so they know it won’t be a cakewalk. Despite a marvellous start to the Champions League season with three consecutive wins, including beating Liverpool in their season opener, Galatasaray ended in 20th place by going winless in their final four League Phase games, which had three losses. Meanwhile, the Bianconeri ended in 13th after a crazy start with a 4-4 draw against Borussia Dortmund, but found their real feat once Luciano Spalletti took charge, staying unbeaten under his tenure at the competition. Hence, Juventus looks to be the favourite for the tie based on form.
Club Brugge (Pos: 19) vs Atletico Madrid (Pos: 12)
Once again, Club Brugge managed to have a productive League Phase campaign, qualifying for the knockout playoffs for back-to-back seasons. The Belgian giants finished 19th in the League Phase table, suffering four losses but also picking up three significant victories and giving nightmares to last season’s semifinalists, Barcelona, in a 3-3 thriller. The side also eliminated a team like Atalanta in their previous participation at this stage, so they certainly won’t be sweating at the prospect of facing Atletico Madrid over two legs. In fact, it is Diego Simeone’s men who have a lot of things to worry about after losing their final group game to debutants Bodo Glimt and snapping their chance to move into the top eight. The side finished 14th after winning half of the eight available matches, but they remained winless in the final two League Phase games. Facing Brugge away will be a difficult task in itself, but the two-time finalists carry a standard regardless of the situation, which they wish to set in the tie to catch the Round of 16 train.
Borussia Dortmund (pos: 17) vs Atalanta (pos: 15)
Borussia Dortmund taking on Atalanta will be another exciting tie to look forward to, with both sides similar in quality. The pair have also struggled in the Champions League, with the German club finishing 17th with just 11 points collected, whereas the 2024 Europa League winners finished just two places above them. Both have also lost the final two League Phase games and while Dortmund are doing better domestically, it will be anyone’s game. The two faced each other only once before on the continental stage, in the round of 32 of the Europa League back in 2018, which also produced an even battle. An absolute thriller was played at the Signal Iduna Park in the first leg, with the home side scoring a dramatic winner through Michy Batshuayi to take a 3-2 advantage at Bergamo, where they once again lived late to secure a 1-1 draw and progressed to the next round. This tie awaits to be more dramatic than before, with the first leg in Dortmund once again.
Olympiacos (pos: 18) vs Bayer Leverkusen (pos: 16)
The Black and Yellow’s Bundesliga rivals, Bayer Leverkusen, will also be in action after finishing a place above them in the League Phase table, setting a tie with Greek giants Olympiacos for the second time in the competition this season. In that game, the Thrylos came out 2-0 winners, which was part of three consecutive victories they managed in the final three League Phase games, helping them grab the 18th spot and a chance to compete in the playoffs. Hence, they would be confident of taking on the German opponents again, getting the home advantage once more for the first leg. Meanwhile, Leverkusen are looking for revenge after sealing their place in the knockout playoffs with a much-needed 3-0 win over already eliminated Villarreal in the final League Phase game. It was also essential as Kasper Hjulmand's team picked up momentum at the right moment after remaining winless in the previous two matches. They have won every game in all competitions since that defeat in late January, making them a formidable side too.
Champions League 2025-26 Knockout Playoff Fixtures
First Leg
Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Galatasaray vs Juventus - Rams Park Stadium, Istanbul (23:15)
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Benfica vs Real Madrid - Estádio da Luz, Lisbon (01:30)
Dortmund vs Atalanta - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund (01:30)
AS Monaco vs PSG - Stade Louis-II, Monaco (01:30)
Qarabag vs Newcastle United -Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku (23:15)
Thursday, 19 February 2026
Bodo Glimt vs Inter - Aspmyra Stadion, Bodø (01:30)
Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid - Jan Breydelstadion, Brugge (01:30)
Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen - Stadio Georgios Karaiskáki, Piraeus (01:30)
Second Leg
Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Atletico Madrid vs Club Brugge - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid (23:15)
Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Bayer Leverkusen vs Olympiacos - Bayer Arena, Leverkusen (01:30)
Inter vs Bodo Glimt - San Siro, Milan (01:30)
Newcastle United vs Qarabag - St James’ Park, Newcastle (01:30)
Atalanta vs Dortmund - Stadio di Bergamo, Bergamo (23:15)
Thursday, 26 February 2026
Juventus vs Galatasaray - The Allianz Stadium, Turin (01:30)
PSG vs AS Monaco - Parc des Princes, Paris (01:30)
Real Madrid vs Benfica - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid (01:30)
