UEFA Champions League Knockout Playoff Round: A Guide to the Road to the Round of 16

The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League season is heating up, with the knockout playoff round set to determine the final teams advancing to the prestigious round of 16. This new stage of the competition, featuring teams that finished ninth through 24th in the league phase, adds an extra layer of excitement and opportunity for clubs vying for European glory. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the current landscape, key dates, and potential matchups.

Understanding the Knockout Playoff Round

Introduced to expand the Champions League format, the knockout playoff round provides a second chance for 16 teams to reach the round of 16. These teams, having concluded the league phase between ninth and 24th positions, will compete in two-legged ties to secure their place among Europe’s elite.

Key Dates and Fixtures

The first legs of the knockout playoff round are scheduled for February 17-18, 2026, with the second legs taking place the following week, on February 24-25, 2026. The fixtures are as follows:

• Borussia Dortmund vs. Atalanta
• Benfica vs. Real Madrid
• AS Monaco vs. Paris Saint-Germain
• Galatasaray vs. Juventus
• Club Bruges vs. Atletico Madrid
• FK Qarabag vs. Newcastle United
• Bodø/Glimt vs. International
• Olympiakos vs. Bayer Leverkusen

Teams listed second will host the second leg, providing a potential advantage as they aim to close out the tie on home turf.

Impact on Top Eight Clubs

The top eight teams from the league phase—those who directly advanced to the round of 16—will await the winners of the playoff round. The outcome of these playoff matches will determine their potential opponents in the next stage of the competition. Currently, each of these top eight clubs has four possible opponents, a number that will be reduced to two after the playoff round concludes.

• Arsenal or Bayern Munich will play one of the winners of: Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund or Bayer Leverkusen vs. Olympiakos
• Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur will play one of the winners of: Club Brugge vs. Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray vs. Juventus
• Barcelona or Chelsea will play one of the winners of: AS Monaco vs. Paris Saint-Germain or FK Qarabag vs. Newcastle United
• Sporting CP or Manchester City will play one of the winners of: Benfica vs. Real Madrid or Bodø/Glimt vs. International

No Country Protection in the Draw

A significant aspect of the Champions League knockout stages is the absence of country protection. This means that teams from the same nation can be drawn against each other, adding an extra layer of drama and unpredictability. For example, if Borussia Dortmund were to defeat Atalanta, they could potentially face fellow German club Bayern Munich in the round of 16.

Looking Ahead: Round of 16 Draw and Beyond

The draw for the round of 16 is scheduled for February 27, 2026, and will finalize the bracket for the remainder of the knockout rounds. Key dates for the subsequent stages are:

• Round of 16: March 10-11, March 17-18
• Quarterfinals: April 7-8, April 14-15
• Semifinals: April 28-29, May 5-6
• Final: May 30 (Budapest, Hungary)

The Significance of League Phase Finish

The league phase finish has grow increasingly key with the introduction of the knockout playoff round. Last season, Manchester City’s 22nd-place finish meant they had to navigate this extra hurdle, ultimately facing a challenging tie against Real Madrid. Conversely, Paris Saint-Germain successfully progressed through the playoff round and went on to win the title. This year, higher-ranked teams like Arsenal and Bayern Munich will benefit from avoiding potential clashes with European powerhouses Real Madrid and PSG in the round of 16.