After the league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League, the top eight teams can sit back and wait for the Round of 16 in March. But for the sides that finished in the next 16 spots in the table, they must tackle the potentially perilous knockout phase play-offs. Among those sides are several former European champions, plus one or two minnows who have proven their credentials against some of the best sides in Europe.
In this article, we’ll look at which of the play-offs could result in a giant-killing… and there are certainly some footballing giants who will be fearful of such an outcome.
Knockout Phase Play-Off Fixtures
Fixtures confirmed ✅
Champions League knockout phase play-off ties ⤵️#UCLdraw | #UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 30, 2026
Here is the full list of play-offs, with the first legs being played on 17th or 18th February, and the second legs on 24th or 25th February:
- Monaco v Paris Saint-Germain*
- Galatasaray v Juventus*
- Benfica v Real Madrid*
- Borussia Dortmund* v Atalanta
- Qarabağ v Newcastle United
- Club Brugge v Atlético Madrid
- Bodø/Glimt v Inter Milan*
- Olympiacos v Bayer Leverkusen
*Denotes a club that has won the European Cup/Champions League at least once
Current and Record European Champions Hope to Avoid Mishaps
Only 24 club sides have ever been crowned champions of Europe. Five of those finished in the top eight in the league phase, and a further five face the play-offs. Real Madrid have won the tournament a record 15 times (including the Champions League’s forerunner, the European Cup), and if they are to have a chance of extending that record, they will need to get past José Mourinho’s Benfica.
In a quirk of the draw, the sides faced one another on the final day of the league phase… and Benfica won that encounter 4-2, scuppering Real’s chance of finishing in the top eight while simultaneously landing the last of the play-off places. The 15-time European champions will be taking nothing for granted in this tie.
From the record holders, we turn next to the current champions, Paris Saint-Germain, who face fellow Ligue 1 side Monaco for a place in the last 16 of the competition. The most recent meeting between the sides was back in November when Monaco won 1-0 at the Stade Louis II, but PSG won the three encounters before that. Luis Enrique and his staff will know Monaco well, and they will be sure to take them seriously after suffering defeat at their hands last time they met.
Italian Giants Face Plucky Opponents
Former European champions Juventus and Inter Milan both have tricky play-off opponents. Juve face Turkish side Galatasaray, who beat Liverpool and Ajax in the league phase. The Turkish side had a mixed bag of results in the league phase, including a 5-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt (the German side’s only win from their eight games), and a 1-0 victory over Liverpool, who eventually finished third in the table. Juve are only fourth in Serie A at the time of writing, but they would hope to cruise past Galatasaray without too much trouble. Time will tell whether that hope comes to fruition.
Inter, meanwhile, will battle it out with Bodø/Glimt, who took the scalps of Atletico Madrid (in the Spanish capital) and Manchester City (on home soil) during the league phase. Cristian Chivu’s Inter are currently sitting pretty at the top of Serie A, and have played some fine football this term. But defeats to Liverpool, Arsenal, and Atletico in the league phase forced them into the play-offs. They should have enough to beat Bodø/Glimt, but then again, Man City and Atletico should have had enough too. The Norwegians have shown themselves willing and able to fight for everything in the Champions League this term, and Inter certainly won’t have things all their own way.
The Other Four Play-Offs
Borussia Dortmund v Atalanta
Second in the German Bundesliga plays fourth in Serie A in what could well be one of the closest ties of the play-offs. A fast start for either side could give them the impetus to control the tie. Former European champions Dortmund are perhaps the slight favourites to progress.
Qarabağ v Newcastle United
Despite their domestic woes, Newcastle will fancy their chances against Qarabağ. The Magpies performed well away at PSG in their final league phase match, and Eddie Howe will hope his players maintain the momentum in this one. If they do, they should win with relative ease.
Club Brugge v Atlético Madrid
Atletico haven’t been great in Europe this term. Losing to Bodø/Glimt and getting walloped 4-0 at Arsenal were particular low points. Unless they can raise their game sufficiently, Atletico could struggle against a Brugge side who have troubled every opponent they’ve faced in the Champions League this term.
Olympiacos v Bayer Leverkusen
Olympiacos beat Leverkusen 2-0 on Matchday 7, and the Greeks will be hoping for a similar outcome when the sides meet again in the play-offs. The Germans, meanwhile, will want a repeat of the performance they showed when beating Pep Guardiola’s Man City 2-0 at the Etihad on Matchday 5. Either side could win this if they get the rub of the green.