Champions League knockout phase play-off draw: Format, dates, fixture schedule and qualified teams
When is the Champions League knockout phase play-off draw? What teams are involved? When will the games be played? How does the format work? All questions answered as 16 teams look to reach the knock-out stages...
Friday 30 January 2026 11:46, UK
The Champions League league phase is over - we know eight teams heading for the last 16, but who now has two extra games in their schedules for the right to join them, and who will they play?
The top eight teams - Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting and Man City - have all qualified for the next round of the Champions League, but we still don't know who they will face in the knock-out phases.
Here's everything you need to know about the play-off draw and who's involved...
- Champions League scores and fixtures
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How do the play-offs work?
The teams ranked ninth to 24th in the league phase will now go head-to-head in two-legged play-off games to determine which eight will progress as the unseeded sides for the last 16, where their opponents will be determined by who finished where in the top eight.
Who will play who in the play-offs?
The eight ties are...
- Benfica vs Real Madrid
- Bodo/Glimt vs Inter Milan
- Monaco vs PSG
- Qarabag vs Newcastle
- Galatasaray vs Juventus
- Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
- Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
- Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen
Who will Newcastle play in the play-offs?
Newcastle will play Qarabag in the play-offs.
The winner of that tie will then play either Barcelona or Chelsea in the last-16.
When will the play-offs take place?
The games will be played over the midweeks of February 17-18 and 24-25.
When is the draw for the last 16?
Following the conclusion of the play-off round the draw for the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be held on February 27.
