The league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League is officially over, and attention now turns to the knockout play-offs. While the top eight teams have already secured automatic qualification to the round of 16, clubs finishing between ninth and 24th must battle it out over two legs for the remaining places.
With the play-off draw set to take place on Friday, January 30, fans are now beginning to map out potential paths to the final in Budapest. Here is everything you need to know about how the next phase works and who the Premier League clubs could face.
When Is the Champions League Play-Off Draw?
The Champions League knockout play-off draw will take place at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday, January 30, with proceedings getting underway at 11:00 GMT.
When Will the Play-Off Matches Be Played?
The play-off ties will be contested over two legs in February. The first legs will take place on February 17 or 18, with the return fixtures scheduled for the following week. Teams who finished higher in the league phase will have the advantage of playing the second leg at home.
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How Does the Champions League Play-Off Draw Work?
Teams are split into seeded and unseeded groups based on their final league positions. Clubs finishing between ninth and 16th are seeded, while those ending the league phase between 17th and 24th are unseeded.
Each seeded pair is drawn against an unseeded pair, meaning teams that finished ninth or 10th will face one of the teams ranked 23rd or 24th, 11th or 12th will face 21st or 22nd, and so on. The seeded team will always host the second leg, a key advantage at this stage of the competition.
Which Teams Are Seeded?
The seeded teams for the play-off round are Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen.
Which Teams Are Unseeded?
The unseeded sides include Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Monaco, Qarabag, Bodo/Glimt and Benfica.
Can Teams from the Same Country Face Each Other?
Yes. Unlike the league phase, there is no protection against clubs from the same domestic league being drawn together at this stage. Teams can also be drawn against opponents they faced earlier in the competition.
Who Could Arsenal Face in the Round of 16?
After finishing top of the league phase, Arsenal have already secured direct passage to the round of 16. The Gunners now know they will face one of Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen, and they will have the advantage of playing the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Who Could Liverpool Face in the Round of 16?
Liverpool finished third overall and will meet one of Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Juventus or Atletico Madrid in the last 16. Like all top-eight finishers, they will host the second leg.
Who Could Tottenham Face in the Round of 16?
Tottenham ended the league phase in fourth place and will be drawn against Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray. Spurs will travel for the first leg before returning home for the decisive second match.
Who Could Chelsea Face in the Round of 16?
Chelsea’s possible opponents include Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle, Monaco or Qarabag. The Blues will also benefit from a home second leg after finishing inside the top eight.
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Who Could Manchester City Face in the Round of 16?
Manchester City scraped into eighth place and face a potentially tricky route. Pep Guardiola’s side could be drawn against Benfica, Bodo/Glimt, Inter Milan or Real Madrid, setting up the possibility of another heavyweight European clash.
With the draw just around the corner, the Champions League is entering its most unforgiving phase. One bad night can end a season, while a favourable draw could open the door to a deep run towards Budapest.
