Champions League Playoff Draw Sets Up High-Stakes Showdowns

The UEFA Champions League playoff round draw for the 2025-26 season has set the stage for a thrilling knockout phase, with sixteen teams learning their fates in Nyon, Switzerland, on January 30, 2026. As the dust settles from a dramatic league phase, fans across Europe are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in one of football’s most storied competitions.

The draw, held at UEFA’s House of European Football and broadcast around the globe, paired some of Europe’s biggest clubs with dangerous challengers. The playoff round, which features teams finishing ninth through 24th in the league phase, will determine the final eight clubs to join the top eight—who already secured their places in the round of 16 after a grueling league campaign.

Here are the confirmed matchups for the playoff round:

- Benfica vs Real Madrid

- Bodø/Glimt vs Inter Milan

- Qarabağ vs Newcastle United

- Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain

- Club Brugge vs Atlético Madrid

- Galatasaray vs Juventus

- Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen

- Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta

The playoff round is scheduled for two legs, with the first matches taking place on February 17 and 18, and the return fixtures on February 24 and 25, 2026. The seeded teams—those who finished 9th to 16th—will play the decisive second leg at home, a potential advantage that could prove crucial in this high-stakes format.

As always, the Champions League draw was a spectacle in itself. Former France international Robert Pirès acted as the “innocent hand” for the proceedings, and UEFA’s Giorgio Marchetti set the scene, noting the competition’s record 487 goals in the league phase. "Qarabağ and Bodø/Glimt are playing in this stage for the first time. Congratulations to both clubs," Marchetti added, highlighting the growing diversity of the Champions League field.

The new format, introduced in 2024, has changed the competition’s landscape. The top eight teams—Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Sporting CP, Manchester City, and Chelsea—advanced directly to the round of 16, earning a valuable rest while the remaining sixteen must fight for survival. This structure rewards consistency but also keeps the drama alive for clubs that stumble late in the league phase.

One of the most talked-about stories from the league phase was Benfica’s dramatic qualification. Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin became an instant hero with a last-minute goal against Real Madrid, securing Benfica’s place in the playoffs and sending the Spanish giants into the extra round. The moment was so iconic that Benfica released a commemorative shirt to celebrate Trubin’s feat, priced at €22.49—a testament to how quickly legends are born in this competition.

The draw also produced some mouthwatering reunions and narratives. Real Madrid, who finished ninth, will face Benfica once again, pitting them against their former coach José Mourinho. According to Jorge Valdano, the former Real Madrid player, “It's an uncertain tie for Madrid. Three days ago we would have assessed it differently, but Benfica know how to play against them. Mourinho understands exactly what troubles Madrid. Still, Madrid continue to trust in the Bernabéu’s magic.”

Benfica’s executive Mario Branco echoed the challenge ahead: “It's a pleasure to visit the Bernabéu. We knew it would be a difficult tie. On Wednesday we already showed that we can do it, that we stay fully switched on until the end. Over two legs it will be even harder, and we’ll face a much angrier Madrid. We had some luck, but also the merit of believing until the final moment. We’ll try to be strong at home and then survive at the Bernabéu, the most difficult stadium in Europe. With away goals no longer counting, balance is crucial, and the emotional side will also be very important.”

For Newcastle United, the only English side in the playoff round after the Premier League’s dominant league phase, a tie against Qarabağ awaits. Eddie Howe’s men, having dropped from a top-eight spot after a 1-1 draw with PSG, must now regroup and navigate a tricky two-legged affair to keep their European dreams alive.

Paris Saint-Germain, last season’s champions, also find themselves in the playoff round after finishing outside the top eight. Their matchup with Monaco promises fireworks, especially given PSG’s experience of taking the long road to European glory last year. Inter Milan, last season’s beaten finalists, face Norwegian upstarts Bodø/Glimt, who are making their first appearance at this stage—a remarkable achievement for the club.

The playoff round’s format, which seeds teams based on league phase position and removes country restrictions, has already drawn praise for its unpredictability and fairness. As Robert Pirès put it: “I love this new format. It's completely different, fresh. It feels like being on a rollercoaster. The final matchday was the perfect night. Arsenal look like the favourites based on the standings, winning every game, which is incredible, but now a new competition begins. Arsenal, Bayern, Chelsea, Juventus… to reach the final and win the Champions League, every detail matters. It’s extremely difficult. This competition is very attractive.”

With the away goals rule scrapped, each tie is set to be decided strictly on aggregate, potentially leading to more open and attacking football. The stakes are higher than ever, as only the winners of these eight playoff ties will join the elite in the round of 16, scheduled for March 10-11 and March 17-18. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and final in Budapest on May 30, 2026, complete the road to European glory.

The Champions League continues to captivate with its blend of tradition and innovation. As the playoff round approaches, every club knows that history can be written in a single moment—just ask Anatoliy Trubin. The coming weeks promise drama, passion, and, no doubt, a few surprises as Europe’s best battle for a place among the continent’s elite.

With the draw complete and anticipation building, all eyes now turn to February’s fixtures. Who will seize the moment and who will fall short? The answers will come soon enough, as the Champions League’s knockout phase gets underway and the quest for glory resumes.