The UEFA Champions League playoff round concluded on Wednesday, February 25, with four key fixtures deciding the final teams to advance to the round of 16 ahead of Friday’s draw.
Four clubs, Real Madrid, Galatasaray, Atalanta and PSG progressed from the playoffs, joining the four teams that secured qualification on Tuesday, February 24.
Those eight sides will complete the round-of-16 lineup alongside the eight teams that automatically qualified after finishing in the top eight of the league phase standings.
Champions League Draw Date and Format
The round-of-16 draw is scheduled for 12pm WAT on Friday, February 27, at the House of European Football in Nyon.
Under the competition format, the eight teams advancing from the playoffs will enter the draw knowing they can face only one of two predetermined opponents. For instance, Newcastle United F.C. will be drawn against either Chelsea F.C. or FC Barcelona.
The top-eight finishers from the league phase will be seeded and will host the second leg of their round-of-16 ties. Teams may also be paired against clubs from their own country or opponents they already faced during the league phase.
Friday’s event will mark the final draw of this season’s competition. Once completed, the bracket for the remainder of the tournament — including potential quarterfinal and semifinal opponents — will be set.
Playoff Results and Ongoing Ties
Eight teams have already confirmed their places in the next round:
- Atlético Madrid defeated Club Brugge KV 7-4 on aggregate.
- Newcastle United F.C. advanced 9-3 on aggregate over Qarabağ FK.
- FK Bodø/Glimt eliminated Inter Milan 5-2 on aggregate.
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen beat Olympiacos F.C. 2-0 on aggregate
- Paris Saint-Germain F.C. edged AS Monaco FC 5-4 on aggregate.
- Galatasaray S.K advanced at the expense of Juventus after a 7-5 aggregate scoreline
- Real Madrid CF outdid SL Benfica 3-1 on aggregate to book a spot
- Atalanta BC holds a 4-3 aggregate advantage over Borussia Dortmund.
Potential Round-of-16 Pairings
The bracket outlines the following possible matchups:
- PSG vs. Barcelona or Chelsea
- Galatasaray vs. Liverpool F.C. or Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
- Real Madrid vs. Sporting CP or Manchester City F.C.
- Atalanta vs. Arsenal F.C. or FC Bayern Munich
- Newcastle vs. Chelsea or Barcelona
- Atlético Madrid vs. Tottenham or Liverpool
- Bodø/Glimt vs. Manchester City or Sporting CP
- Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich or Arsenal
Knockout Schedule and Final
The round of 16 will be played March 10-11 and March 17-18, followed by the quarterfinals on April 7-8 and April 14-15. The semifinals are set for April 28-29 and May 5-6.
The 2026 Champions League final will take place on May 30 at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, with kickoff scheduled for 12 p.m. ET.
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