UEFA’s knockout stage draws for both the Champions League and Europa League were completed on Friday, setting up a series of high-stakes, two-legged play-off ties that will determine which clubs progress to the Round of 16 in Europe’s elite club competitions.
Champions League Playoffs: High Drama and Big Names
The UEFA Champions League knockout round play-off draw produced several compelling fixtures after the conclusion of the league phase.
A standout tie sees Real Madrid drawn to play Benfica again in a dramatic rematch.
The Portuguese side clinched their play-off berth with a memorable 4-2 victory over Real Madrid late in the league phase, and now the two giants will meet over two legs in mid-February for a place in the last 16.
Other key matchups include:
- Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain – an all-Ligue 1 clash of familiar rivals.
- Newcastle United vs Qarabağ – a historic tie for the English side.
- Juventus vs Galatasaray
- Bodø/Glimt vs Inter Milan
- Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund
- Atlético Madrid vs Club Brugge
- Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen
All eight play-off ties will be played over two legs, with first legs scheduled across 17–18 February and second legs on 24–25 February 2026. The winners will progress to join the eight automatic qualifiers — including the likes of Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool — in the Round of 16.
Champions League organisers confirmed the draw followed UEFA’s standard procedure, pairing teams that finished between 9th and 24th in the league phase and determining the full play-off bracket.
Europa League Play-Offs: Underdogs and Blockbusters
UEFA also confirmed the Europa League knockout round play-off draw, which brought a mix of established names and underdogs into compelling ties. Seeded teams were paired against unseeded clubs in two-legged confrontations due later in February.
The full set of Europa League play-off fixtures is:
- Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahçe
- Celtic vs Stuttgart
- Dinamo Zagreb vs Genk
- Brann vs Bologna
- Ludogorets vs Ferencváros
- Panathinaikos vs Viktoria Plzeň
- PAOK Thessaloniki vs Celta Vigo
- Lille vs Red Star Belgrade
These ties will be contested over 19 February (first legs) and 26 February (second legs), with the victors advancing to the Europa League Round of 16 draw, scheduled for 27 February 2026.
Context and What’s Next
The Champions League and Europa League draws mark a pivotal moment in the European season. Clubs now turn their attention to preparing for these high-pressure fixtures, with favourites and underdogs alike eyeing progression deeper into continental competition.
For fans of European football, February’s play-off weekends promise thrilling encounters, storylines and the chance for clubs to build momentum on the road to major silverware.
