Champions League play-off draw

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Champions League play-off draw

On Friday, at its headquarters in Nyon, the continent's top competition drew the fixtures for the eight play-off matches prior to the round of 16.

By: Antxon Pascual
February 3, 2026
Champions League play-off draw

After a thrilling final day of the Champions League group stage, UEFA held the play-off draw. The 16 teams ranked between ninth and 24th will face each other in a two-legged tie for a place in the round of 16.

The first legs of the promotion play-offs will be played on 17 and 18 February at the stadium of the team ranked between 17th and 24th, while the second legs will be played on 24 and 25 February at the home of the team that finished the Champions League group stage between 9th and 16th. The winner of this tie will play the first leg of the round of 16 at home and the second leg away.

Old acquaintances

Among the eight playoff ties, two stand out above the rest. On the one hand, in a Ligue 1 duel, Monaco will face the reigning champions, PSG. Last year, Luis Enrique's side also had to play in the playoffs against a team from their league, Lille, whom they thrashed 10-0 on aggregate in the tie.

The other intriguing match-up pits José Mourinho's Benfica against Real Madrid. The Portuguese side secured their place in the play-offs with an epic goal from their goalkeeper Trubin against Álvaro Arbeloa's team. The Spanish side are heavy favourites, but they know that if they don't play to their usual standard, they could suffer against a Benfica side that already knows what it takes to beat Real Madrid.

Other notable ties include Atalanta versus Borussia Dortmund, while Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Inter Milan, Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen are clear favourites to secure their place in the Champions League round of 16.

Champions League play-off dates and times:

  • Galatasaray - Juventus (17 February, 18:45)
  • Borussia Dortmund - Atalanta (17 February, 21:00)
  • Monaco - PSG (17 February, 21:00)
  • Benfica - Real Madrid (17 February, 21:00)
  • Qarabag - Newcastle (18 February, 6:45 p.m.)
  • Olympiacos - Bayer Leverkusen (18 February, 9:00 p.m.)
  • Bodo Glimnt - Inter Milan (18 February, 9:00 p.m.)
  • Bruges - Atlético Madrid (18 February, 9:00 p.m.)
  • Atlético Madrid - Bruges (24 February, 6:45 p.m.)
  • Newcastle - Qarabag (24 February, 9:00 p.m.)
  • Bayer Leverkusen - Olympiacos (24 February, 9:00 p.m.)
  • Inter Milan - Bodo Glimnt (24 February, 9:00 p.m.)
  • Atalanta - Borussia Dortmund (25 February, 6:45 p.m.)
  • Juventus - Galatasaray (25 February, 9:00 p.m.)
  • PSG - Monaco (25 February, 9:00 p.m.)
  • Real Madrid - Benfica (25 February, 9:00 p.m.)

Leagues mentioned in this article

UEFA Champions League

UEFA Champions League

Season 2025/2026

08-0718-03

Teams mentioned in this article

Real Madrid

Real Madrid

Stadium: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid)
Capacity: 85,454
PSG W

PSG W

Stadium: Campus PSG (Poissy)
Capacity: 5,000
Newcastle United W

Newcastle United W

Stadium: Gateshead International Stadium (Gateshead, Tyne and Wear)
Capacity: 11,750
Atlético de Madrid

Atlético de Madrid

Stadium: Riyadh Air Metropolitano (Madrid)
Capacity: 70,460
Juventus U20

Juventus U20

Stadium: Juventus Training Center (Vinovo)
Capacity: 600
Internacional W

Internacional W

Stadium: Campo do SESC (Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul)
Capacity: 1,000
Atalanta

Atalanta

Stadium: Gewiss Stadium (Bergamo)
Capacity: 24,950
Bayer Leverkusen W

Bayer Leverkusen W

Stadium: Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion (Leverkusen)
Capacity: 3,200
Benfica

Benfica

Stadium: University of Science and Technology Stadium (MUST) (Taipa)
Capacity: 1,684
Monaco

Monaco

Stadium: Stade Louis-II (Monaco)
Capacity: 18,523
Qarabağ

Qarabağ

Stadium: Tofiq Bəhramov adına Respublika stadionu (Baku)
Capacity: 31,850
Club Brugge

Club Brugge

Stadium: Jan Breydelstadion (Brugge)
Capacity: 29,062
Galatasaray

Galatasaray

Stadium: RAMS Park (İstanbul)
Capacity: 53,798
Bodø / Glimt

Bodø / Glimt

Stadium: Aspmyra Stadion (Bodø)
Capacity: 8,270
Borussia Dortmund U19

Borussia Dortmund U19

Stadium: Fußballpark BVB Hohenbuschei (Dortmund)
Capacity: 3,000
Olympiakos Piraeus U19

Olympiakos Piraeus U19

Stadium: Proponitiko Kentro Reti (Athína (Athens))
Capacity: 3,000

Coaches mentioned in this article

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