The knockout playoff round draw for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League has occurred, showcasing some of Europe’s top clubs. With the draw finalized, clubs such as Real Madrid and reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain have learned their opponents in the battle for a berth in the round of 16.
Which teams appear to have the clearest path through the knockout stages? How is the overall bracket taking shape?
Here’s everything you need to know about the Champions League knockout phase.
Which teams are competing in the knockout playoff round?
The playoff round will involve the 16 teams that finished in the ninth to 24th positions during the league phase.
The top eight teams advanced directly to the round of 16, while those finishing from 25th to 36th have been eliminated.
When will the knockout playoff round take place?
The first legs of each matchup are scheduled for February 17-18, while the second legs will take place the following week, on February 24-25.
What are the knockout playoff round matchups?
The teams ranked ninth to 16th are listed second in each matchup, giving them the advantage of hosting the second leg.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Atalanta
Benfica vs. Real Madrid
AS Monaco vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Galatasaray vs. Juventus
Club Brugge vs. Atletico Madrid
FK Qarabag vs. Newcastle United
Olympiacos vs. Bayer Leverkusen
What implications does this have for the top eight clubs?
Following the playoff round draw, teams that finished in the top eight of the league stage still have four potential opponents for the round of 16.
This knockout playoff round will narrow down the possible opponents to just two. However, the specific matchups will be determined in the round-of-16 draw.
Potential round-of-16 matchups:
Arsenal or Bayern Munich will face one of the winners of:
Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Olympiacos
Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur will play one of the winners of:
Club Brugge vs. Atletico Madrid
Galatasaray vs. Juventus
Barcelona or Chelsea will face one of the winners of:
AS Monaco vs. Paris Saint-Germain
FK Qarabag vs. Newcastle United
Sporting CP or Manchester City will play one of the winners of:
Benfica vs. Real Madrid
Bodo/Glimt vs. Internazionale
Is country protection in place?
No, teams from the same country can meet each other throughout the knockout stages. For instance, if Borussia Dortmund were to defeat Atalanta, they could still be matched against their fellow German club, Bayern Munich, in the round of 16.
What are the next steps?
Following the two-legged knockout playoff round in February, the draw for the round of 16 will take place on February 27. This draw will finalize the matchups for the round of 16 and set the remainder of the knockout bracket.
What are other key Champions League dates to keep in mind?
Round of 16/quarterfinal/semifinal draw: February 27
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)
Why is league phase positioning significant?
Last season highlighted the importance of finishing strong in the league phase. Manchester City found themselves in a precarious position, needing to secure their knockout qualification on the final day. Their lower 22nd-place finish meant they were unseeded for the playoffs, leading to a difficult matchup against seeded team Real Madrid, resulting in a 6-3 aggregate loss.
Conversely, PSG carried on unaffected by their additional playoff round, advancing smoothly past Brest and ultimately winning the title.
This year, teams like Arsenal and Bayern Munich potentially stand to gain by steering clear of formidable opponents such as Real Madrid and PSG in the round of 16.