Champions League Playoff Preview: Galatasaray vs Juventus and More

The UEFA Champions League knockout phase playoff round begins on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, with several intriguing matchups. Juventus travels to Istanbul to face Galatasaray, while Real Madrid seeks revenge against Benfica in Lisbon. Borussia Dortmund hosts Atalanta, and Paris Saint-Germain takes on Monaco in an all-French affair.

Galatasaray vs Juventus

Galatasaray will host Juventus at Rams Park, with kickoff at 17:45 local time. Galatasaray currently sits 20th in the Turkish Süper Lig with 10 points, while Juventus is 13th in Serie A with 13 points. Recent form suggests a competitive match, with Galatasaray winning their last four matches across all competitions, including a 5-1 victory over Eyüpspor on Saturday featuring a hat-trick from Mauro Icardi and a start for Victor Osimhen. ESPN reports this match is a key fixture for both teams.

Juventus, despite a recent 3-2 loss to Inter Milan in the Derby d’Italia, has shown decent form. Galatasaray has a strong home record this season, having beaten Liverpool and drawn with Atletico Madrid at Rams Park.

Benfica vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid returns to Lisbon to face Benfica, seeking to avenge a 4-2 defeat in January where Anatoliy Trubin scored a 98th-minute winner for Benfica. BBC Sport highlights this rematch as a key fixture. Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa rested Kylian Mbappe in a recent match to manage a knee injury, but Mbappe has been declared fit for Tuesday’s game. Vinicius Junior has scored three goals in his last two games and presents a good value for a goalscorer bet.

Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta

Borussia Dortmund will face Atalanta, with the first leg taking place in Dortmund. Dortmund is looking to improve their European form after suffering 2-0 defeats to Tottenham and Inter Milan in the league phase. They have won their last three games, with each featuring at least three goals, most recently a 4-0 win over Mainz. Atalanta is currently unbeaten in four games, but has struggled in away matches in this competition, losing 4-0 at PSG and 1-0 at Union SG.

Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain faces Monaco in a Ligue 1 clash with Champions League implications. PSG lost 1-0 at the Stade Louis II in November and recently lost 3-1 at Rennes. Monaco is unbeaten at home in this season’s Champions League, drawing with Manchester City and Tottenham and defeating Galatasaray. Ousmane Dembele, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, has scored three goals in PSG’s last two games and is expected to be a key player.

Key Stats

• Galatasaray: 20th in Süper Lig, 10 points, 9 goals scored, 11 goals conceded.
• Juventus: 13th in Serie A, 13 points, 14 goals scored, 10 goals conceded.
• Galatasaray Shots on Target: 39
• Juventus Shots on Target: 49

The Champions League playoff round promises exciting football, with several teams vying for a place in the knockout stages.