The draw for the knockout phase playoffs of the Champions League took place today, at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, confirming a series of mouth-watering ties that will decide the final eight places in the Round of 16
Under the competition’s new format, teams finishing between 9th and 24th in the league phase have to pass through this two-leg playoff round, while the top eight got that golden ticket straight through.
The draw instantly gave several headline clashes, most notably an all-French showdown between Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as pairing Benfica against Real Madrid, again.
As for the rest of the draw, there are some absolute battles. It’s a mix of the old-school giants going head-to-head with hungry underdogs, and these matchups should be intense and tactical and may have a few surprises in store.
The knockout phase play-offs are set ✅#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/SLapvWxVV2
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 30, 2026
February playoffs matches
The playoff fixtures will be played over two legs in February 2026, with the lower-ranked teams hosting the first leg and the higher-ranked sides playing the return match at home. The confirmed matchups are:
- Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain
- Galatasaray vs Juventus
- Benfica vs Real Madrid
- Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
- Qarabağ FK vs Newcastle United
- Club Bruges vs Atlético de Madrid
- Bodø/Glimt vs Inter Milan
- Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen
The first legs are scheduled for February 17 and 18, with the decisive return fixtures on February 24 and 25. The winners will progress to the Round of 16, where they will face the teams that already secured direct qualification.
Those already qualified for the last 16 are Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, FC Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP, and Manchester City. Their opponents will be determined at the next draw on February 27.
